Pain and Screen Addiction in University Students

August 13, 2024 updated by: Acibadem University

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.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

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.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
255

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Turkey
    • None Selected
      • Istanbul, None Selected, Turkey, 34752
        • Acibadem University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

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.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

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

Exclusion Criteria:

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

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Investigating the use of screen-based devices
Time Frame: during the procedure
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).
during the procedure
Musculoskeletal system evaluation
Time Frame: during the procedure
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.
during the procedure

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Physical activity assessment
Time Frame: during the procedure

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.
during the procedure

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Acibadem University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Elif E Safran, asst. prof., Acibadem University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 4, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 28, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 24, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 21, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 21, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 28, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 14, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 13, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2024-1/15

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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