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Development and validation of a comprehensive prevention-focused intervention package for problematic digital
Yatan Pal Singh Balhara1, Vishal Dhiman2, Siddharth Sarkar3
1Behavioral Addictions Clinic (BAC) and Centre for Advanced Research on Addictive Behaviours (CARAB), National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
This study developed a prevention intervention package to address problematic digital technology use in youth, involving youth, parents, and teachers. The package showed feasibility and acceptability, informing future large-scale implementations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Digital Health
- Intervention Science
Background:
- Problematic digital technology use in youth is linked to adverse health and academic outcomes.
- Existing research primarily focuses on treatment, with limited prevention strategies, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
- There is a critical need for structured, multi-stakeholder prevention approaches involving youth, parents, and teachers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a comprehensive, prevention-focused intervention package for problematic digital technology use among youth.
- To address the gap in evidence-based prevention strategies for youth's digital technology use.
Main Methods:
- A sequential mixed-methods design will be employed across six sites in India.
- Intervention development will utilize literature reviews, stakeholder interviews, and expert consensus, guided by complex intervention frameworks.
- Validation will involve a quasi-experimental pre-post design, assessing quantitative measures (knowledge, skills, feasibility) and qualitative data (engagement, context).
Main Results:
- The study is expected to yield a modular, prevention-focused intervention package.
- Evidence of the intervention's feasibility and acceptability among target users will be established.
- The findings will provide a foundation for future large-scale implementation and evaluation studies.
Conclusions:
- This protocol details a structured approach to developing a prevention intervention for problematic digital technology use in youth.
- The emphasis on prevention, stakeholder engagement, and real-world settings enhances its relevance for public health policy and practice.
