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Postural; DefectNCT04256031

Effects of Smartphone Use on Posture, Pain, Function and QoL

An observational study of Postural; Defect and Neck Pain, Posterior, run by Yeditepe University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The aim of the study is to determine the effects of the use of smartphone on the neck and shoulder posture, pain, and functions, and the quality of life in young adults. The sample of the study consists of university students. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 25 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Assessment
How many people
106 participants
Where
1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
Study dates
1 Oct 2019to 8 Feb 2020
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 25 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Study population: The sample of the study will consist of university students.

Who may be able to join

  • To be willing and volunteer to participate in the study
  • To be between 18 and 25 years old
  • To have been using smartphone for more than 1 year

Who cannot join

  • To have any health problem history or diagnosed pathology related with the neck or shoulder regions
  • To have any history of trauma or surgery related to the neck or shoulder regions
  • To have received any medical attention or treatment in the last six months because of a health problem related to neck or shoulder
  • To have any diagnosed neurological problem

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
  • Yeditepe University

    Istanbul

Other trials in Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Official title: Evaluation of the Effects of Smartphone Use on Posture, Pain, Function and Quality of Life in Young Adults

The aim of the study is to determine the effects of the use of smartphone on the neck and shoulder posture, pain, and functions, and the quality of life in young adults. The sample of the study consists of university students. According to the scores they got from the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, all participants will be divided into two groups. The neck and shoulder posture, pain, and functions, and the quality of life will be compared between the two groups.

Read the detailed description

The study will include 106 university students who are 18-25 years old. According to the scores they got from the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, all students will be divided into two groups as Excessive Smartphone Use Group and Non-excessive Smartphone Use Group, both consisting of 53 participants. Participants whose scores are higher than 30 will be included to the Excessive Smartphone Use Group, and whose scores are 30 or less will be included to the Non-excessive Smartphone Use Group. In the assessment of pain level, the Visual Analogue Scale will be used. Functional levels of the neck and shoulders will be evaluated with the Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Scale and the Shoulder Disability Questionnaire. World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Short Form will be utilized to assess the quality of life. Postural analyzes of the participants will be fulfilled with the New York Posture Rating Chart. All scores will be evaluated by comparing between the two groups.

Being tested
Assessment
Keywords
Smartphone addiction, Forward head posture, Rounded shoulder, Neck pain, Shoulder pain, Quality of life
Medical subject headings
Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain, Internet Addiction Disorder

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • AssessmentOther

    The structured questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale, Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Scale, Shoulder Disability Questionnaire, World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Short Form, and Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version will be applied to all participants respectively. Lastly, posture analysis will be performed to all participants by using the New York Posture Rating Chart.

Study groups in NCT04256031
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Excessive Smartphone Use GroupParticipants whose Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version scores are higher than 30
Receives: Other: Assessment
Non-excessive Smartphone Use GroupParticipants whose Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version scores are 30 or less
Receives: Other: Assessment

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Posture

    Posture will be examined with New York Posture Rating Chart which is a quantitative approach to assess the alignment of various body parts from posterior and lateral. The total score calculated after the evaluation is at most 65, and at least 13. The low score indicates impairments in posture.

    Measured: 1 day (Instant single measure)

  2. Pain level

    In the assessment of the neck and shoulder pain levels the Visual Analogue Scale will be used. This scale is 10 cm long, and has two ends on a horizontal line. One of these two ends is called as "0", while one is named as "10". "0" point defines no pain, and "10" points describe the most severe pain.

    Measured: 1 day (Instant single measure)

  3. Neck function

    Functional level of the neck will be evaluated with the Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Scale. It is a valid and reliable tool for self-assessment of cervical pain and related disabilities, developed by Jordan el al. in 1998. The minimum score of the scale is 0, while the maximum score is 30. Disability level increases as the total score increases.

    Measured: 1 day (Instant single measure)

  4. Shoulder function

    Functional level of the shoulder will be evaluated with the Shoulder Disability Questionnaire. It is a 16-items disability questionnaire related to shoulder pain. The result is calculated with a special formula, and evaluated out of 100. Disability level increases as the total score increases.

    Measured: 1 day (Instant single measure)

  5. Quality of life level

    World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Short Form will be utilized to assess the quality of life of participants. This questionnaire has been developed by World Health Organization, and has been validated in 1999 by Eser et al. in Turkish population. The scale does not have a total score, each field of the scale is evaluated independently in itself and is scored out of 20 or 100 points. The higher the score shows the higher the quality of life level.

    Measured: 1 day (Instant single measure)

  6. Smartphone addiction level

    In determining the smartphone addiction levels of the participants, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version will be utilized. It is a self-assessment tool questioning smartphone usage, constituted by Kwon et al in 2013. The validity and reliability study of its Turkish version was made by Noyan et al. in 2015. The cut-off score for Turkish population was detected both for male and female students in 2017 by Şata and Karip. The lowest score of the scale is 10, while the highest score is 60. As the score obtained from the scale increases, the severity of smartphone addiction increases.

    Measured: 1 day (Instant single measure)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted5 Feb 2020
  2. Study start1 Oct 2019
  3. Primary completion8 Jan 2020
  4. Study completion8 Feb 2020

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Retrospective
Enrolment
106 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04256031
Sponsor's protocol ID
YU1682
Status last verified
Mar 2025
First submitted
3 Feb 2020
Last updated
5 Mar 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Akodu AK, Akinbo SR, Young QO. Correlation among smartphone addiction, craniovertebral angle, scapular dyskinesis, and selected anthropometric variables in physiotherapy undergraduates. J Taibah Univ Med Sci. 2018 Oct 5;13(6):528-534. doi: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2018.09.001. eCollection 2018 Dec.

    PubMed 31435373

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Postural; Defect and Neck Pain, Posterior, run by Yeditepe University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Mar 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Posture (time frame: 1 day (Instant single measure)). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04256031, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Mar 2025.

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