Can You Reduce Problematic Smartphone Use Through a Group Intervention: A Single Case Experimental Design

Not Applicable

Terminated

• Conditions: Addiction, Smartphone
• Interventions: Behavioral: Problematic smart phone use course

• Registration Number: NCT05384548
• Lead Sponsor: Canterbury Christ Church University

Brief Summary

This study will develop and conduct an initial, single-case, mixed-methods evaluation of a brief group intervention for mild and moderate problematic phone use.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-05-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-05-19
• Study Start: 2022-05-20
• Study First Posted: 2022-05-20
• Status Verified: 2022-10
• Primary Completion: 2022-10-29
• Study Completion: 2022-10-29
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-10-31
• Last Update Posted: 2022-11-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: TERMINATED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 7

Inclusion Criteria

-Self-identifies as struggling with problematic smart phone use

Exclusion Criteria

• Actively experiencing suicidal or self-injurious thoughts, or have experienced these within the past year
• Already in a psychological therapy/intervention
• Planning a change of psychotropic medication during the research project.
• No access to video calling and/or slow internet connection speed
• A mental health condition that is not currently well managed/stable and therefore other interventions are likely to be more appropriate
• Does not own a smartphone that can record screen time
• Is not living in the UK, with access to services within the UK

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Problematic smart phone use course	Problematic smart phone use course	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from pre-intervention (week 1) at post-intervention (week 10) on the Smartphone Addiction Scale -Short Version (SAS-SV).	Post-intervention (week 10)	This measures smartphone addiction producing a score between 10 and 60, with higher scores indicating greater levels of addiction.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from pre-intervention (week 1) at follow-up (week 18) on the Multicultural Quality of Life Index.	Follow-up (week 18)	This measures of quality of life, producing a score between 1 and 10, with higher scores indicating greater quality of life.
Change in daily subjective units of distress from the baseline period (weeks 0 and 1) to the follow-up period (weeks 17 to 18)	Follow-up period (weeks 17 to 18)	Single case analysis will compare daily subject units of distress ratings from the baseline period to the follow-up period. Separate daily ratings, on a 0 to 100 scale, will be obtained for each of anxiety, stress, low mood, and tiredness, with higher ratings indicating higher levels.
Change in daily phone use from the baseline period (weeks 0 and 1) to the intervention period (weeks 2 to 9)	Intervention period (weeks 2 to 9)	Single case analysis will compare daily phone use from the baseline period to the intervention period. Daily use will be measured by screentime (in minutes) and number of pick-ups.
Change from pre-intervention (week 1) at follow-up (week 18) on the Smartphone Addiction Scale -Short Version (SAS-SV).	Follow-up (week 18)	This measures smartphone addiction producing a score between 10 and 60, with higher scores indicating greater levels of addiction.
Change from pre-intervention (week 1) at follow-up (week 18) on the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale -21 item version (DASS-21).	Follow-up (week 18)	This measures levels of depression, anxiety and stress, producing a score between 0 for 42 each, with higher levels indicating greater severity.
Change in daily phone use from the baseline period (weeks 0 and 1) to the follow-up period (weeks 17 to 18)	Follow-up period (weeks 17 to 18)	Single case analysis will compare daily phone use from the baseline period to the follow-up period. Daily use will be measured by screentime (in minutes) and number of pick-ups.
Change from pre-intervention (week 1) at post-intervention (week 10) on the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale -21 item version (DASS-21).	Post-intervention (week 10)	This measures levels of depression, anxiety and stress, producing a score between 0 for 42 each, with higher levels indicating greater severity.
Change from pre-intervention (week 1) at post-intervention (week 10) on the Multicultural Quality of Life Index.	Post-intervention (week 10)	This measures of quality of life, producing a score between 1 and 10, with higher scores indicating greater quality of life.
Change in daily subjective units of distress from the baseline period (weeks 0 and 1) to the intervention period (weeks 2 to 9)	Intervention period (weeks 2 to 9)	Single case analysis will compare daily subject units of distress ratings from the baseline period to the intervention period. Separate daily ratings, on a 0 to 100 scale, will be obtained for each of anxiety, stress, low mood, and tiredness, with higher ratings indicating higher levels.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Salomons Institute, Canterbury Christ Church University; 🇬🇧 Tunbridge Wells, Kent, United Kingdom