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Effect of intervention programs in schools to reduce screen time: a meta-analysis
Roberta Roggia Friedrich1, Jéssica Pinto Polet1, Ilaine Schuch2
1Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Jornal De Pediatria
|March 12, 2014
Summary
Intervention programs effectively reduce screen time in schoolchildren. These strategies help decrease time spent on television, video games, and computers, promoting healthier habits.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Excessive screen time is a growing concern among schoolchildren.
- Sedentary behaviors like watching television, playing video games, and computer use are prevalent.
- Understanding effective interventions is crucial for promoting child health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of intervention program strategies on screen time among schoolchildren.
- To synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials on screen time reduction.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major electronic databases (PubMed, Lilacs, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library).
- Keywords included 'randomized controlled trial,' 'intervention studies,' 'sedentary lifestyle,' 'screen time,' and 'school.'
- A meta-analysis using standardized mean difference with 95% confidence intervals was performed.
Main Results:
- 1,552 studies were initially identified, with 16 randomized controlled trials (n=8,785) included in the meta-analysis.
- Interventions demonstrated a significant effect in reducing overall screen time.
- The standardized mean difference was -0.25 (95% CI: -0.37 to -0.13, p<0.01).
Conclusions:
- Intervention programs are effective in decreasing screen time among schoolchildren.
- These findings support the implementation of strategies to reduce sedentary screen-based activities.
- Positive effects on children's health behaviors are associated with reduced screen time.
