Jenna M. Tone

Screen Time Use in Pediatrics: A Quality Improvement Project to Foster Behavioral Change

BACKGROUND/LOCAL PROBLEM: Children are exposed to more screen time than ever before. Guidelines are provided by both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), directing parents and guardians to limit their child’s screen time. Adverse physical and cognitive consequences have been linked to overexposure of screen time. It is important for health care providers to address screen time exposure, guidelines, and methods to decrease screen time. 

METHODS: The Knowledge to Action framework was used to guide the implementation of this project. Evaluation methods included qualitative and quantitative statistics obtained from the pre-and post-intervention questionnaires.

INTERVENTIONS: By consistent use of anticipatory guidance, an educational pamphlet, a goal sheet, weekly reminders, and use of incentives, guardians were provided with adequate knowledge and tools to decrease their child’s screen time at home. 

RESULTS: Of the 23 of guardians who participated, data demonstrate an average of 1.12 hour decrease in the child’s daily screen time on each device. The child’s total daily estimate of screen decreased 1.6 hours from pre- to post-intervention. The child’s total daily estimate of physical activity increased 0.2 hours from pre- to post-intervention. An increase of 39% of guardians now report they are confident in understanding the adverse effects of over exposure to screen time, and an increase of 17% now report they are implementing screen time rules at home. The goal sheet was reported to be most beneficial by 52% of guardians at decreasing their child’s screen time. 

CONCLUSION: Over exposure to screen time has negative consequences that most guardians are unaware of. By providing guardians with screen time education and methods to decrease their child’s screen time at home, these negative consequences may be avoided. The goal sheet was reported as most useful to guardians and this method should be shared by pediatric providers. 

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