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StudentNCT06282900

Pain and Screen Addiction in University Students

An observational study of Student, run by Acibadem University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

One of the most important factors why young people spend inactive time is the time they spend in front of the screen. Sedentary screen time refers to time spent using a screen-based device, such as a computer, television, smartphone, or tablet while being sedentary in any environment. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 25 years
Conditions the study is for
Student
What is being tested?
University students
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
How many people
255 participants
Where
1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
Study dates
4 Mar 2024to 24 Jul 2024
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 25 years
  • All sexes
  • Adult

Study population: All students between the ages of 18-25 who use screen-based devices for at least 2 hours a day will be included in the study. Those with congenital deformities, those who have experienced trauma to the musculoskeletal system in the last 6 months, and those with serious surgical or neurological diseases will be excluded from the study.

Who may be able to join

  • All students between the ages of 18-25
  • People who use screen-based devices for at least 2 hours a day

Who cannot join

  • Presence of congenital deformity
  • History of trauma to the musculoskeletal system in the last 6 months
  • History of serious surgery
  • Presence of neurological disease

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
  • Acibadem University

    Istanbul, None Selected, 34752

Other trials in Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Official title: Pain and Screen Addiction: The Relationship Between the Number of Pain Areas and Screen Addiction and Various Screen Used in University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

One of the most important factors why young people spend inactive time is the time they spend in front of the screen. Sedentary screen time refers to time spent using a screen-based device, such as a computer, television, smartphone, or tablet while being sedentary in any environment. The last decade has seen a disturbing increase in the amount of time young people spend in front of screens. Research shows that musculoskeletal disorders in the hand, wrist, arm, and neck occur at a high rate due to long-term and repetitive use of the smartphone, one of the electronic devices. People with musculoskeletal pain often complain of more than one area of pain.

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between university students' use of various screen-based devices, the time they spend in front of the screen, and the number of painful areas they report on the body. Our secondary aim is to evaluate the relationship between pain, and screen time, and physical activity level.

Read the detailed description

University is also an important year in individuals' lives because it is a period in which they gain autonomy and have more control over their own lives and behaviors. It is known that adult individuals have a decrease in their physical activity due to their work lives and responsibilities. For this reason, the increase in sedentary life has also become evident in early adulthood.

Sedentary living is associated with many health risks independent of physical activity, and physical activity directly affects health status. Since a large portion of the world's population is physically inactive, physical inactivity is considered a public health problem rather than an individual problem.

One of the most important factors why young people spend inactive time is the time they spend in front of the screen. Sedentary screen time refers to time spent using a screen-based device, such as a computer, television, smartphone, or tablet while being sedentary in any environment. The last decade has seen a disturbing increase in the amount of time young people spend in front of screens.

Most studies on screen addiction have focused on smartphone use. Smartphone addiction is positively associated with repetitive overuse of joints, leading to inflammatory changes in healthy joints. It can also affect proprioceptors in muscles and ligaments due to the postural problems it creates. Research shows that musculoskeletal disorders in the hand, wrist, arm, and neck occur at a high rate due to long-term and repetitive use of the smartphone, one of the electronic devices.

People who experience localized pain often report pain in other areas as well. Having pain in one area increases the risk of developing pain in other areas. Reporting more than one area of pain worsens the prognosis and increases the possibility of the current problem becoming chronic.

People with musculoskeletal pain often suffer from more than one site of pain, and compliance with standard definitions of widespread pain often excludes the majority with more than one site of pain.

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between university students' use of various screen-based devices, the time they spend in front of the screen, and the number of painful areas they report on the body. Our secondary aim is to evaluate the relationship between pain and screen time, and physical activity level.

Conditions
Student
Being tested
University students
Keywords
Musculoskeletal Pain, Screen Time, Physical Activity
Medical subject headings
Musculoskeletal Pain, Motor Activity

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • University studentsOther

    A cross-sectional study (Level IV evidence) will be conducted at the university (Acibadem University, Turkey). All students at the university will be invited to respond to a self-administered online survey. The survey will be prepared via Google Forms.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Investigating the use of screen-based devices

    Participants will be asked to rate the purpose of using screen-based devices (television, computer, game console, or hand-held electronic devices such as tablets and smartphones) during the day, how they use them, and their addictions on a 5-point Likert scale (0: strongly agree, 5: strongly disagree).

    Measured: during the procedure

  2. Musculoskeletal system evaluation

    The Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire will be used to record areas where participants experience pain due to static sitting posture issues such as prolonged sitting and screen use. The Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire consists of items related to nine body parts (neck, shoulders, upper back, elbows, wrists/hands, waist, hips/thighs, knees, ankles/feet) and includes questions about any time in the last 12 months, in the last 1 month, and during the day. Includes questions about experience. It evaluates upper body musculoskeletal symptoms associated with pain or numbness. The Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire generally uses a total score out of 100. High scores may indicate that ergonomic risks need to be evaluated and appropriate precautions taken.

    Measured: during the procedure

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Physical activity assessment

    Participants' physical activity habits will be evaluated with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ - short form). The survey asks about activities that are done regularly at least once a week and how long it takes to do these activities. Activities recorded in the survey will be calculated in hour/week units and the intensity of the activities will be determined according to the MET (Metabolic Equivalent) values of the activities. Questionnaires will be scored using established methods published on the IPAQ website (www.ipaq.ki.se).

    The score obtained can help classify individuals into different activity levels:

    1. Low Level of Physical Activity: Total MET-minutes per week below 600.
    2. Moderate Level of Physical Activity: Total MET-minutes per week between 600 and 3000.
    3. High Level of Physical Activity: Total MET-minutes per week above 3000.

    Measured: during the procedure

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted28 Feb 2024
  2. Study start4 Mar 2024
  3. Primary completion28 May 2024
  4. Study completion24 Jul 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Other
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
255 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06282900
Sponsor's protocol ID
2024-1/15
Status last verified
Aug 2024
First submitted
21 Feb 2024
Last updated
14 Aug 2024
Results posted
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Student, run by Acibadem University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Aug 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Investigating the use of screen-based devices (time frame: during the procedure). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Aug 2024.

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