Technology AddictionNCT06918691
The Effect Of Technology Addiction Prevention Program On University Students At Risk For Technology Addiction
A study testing technology addiction prevention program in people with Technology Addiction and Public Health Nursing, run by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Due to the increasing use of technological devices among adolescents, technology addiction is a serious public health problem that requires intervention. In order to cope with this problem, it is necessary to develop programs that have proven effects and are suitable for our culture and the psychosocial development of… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 17 to 24 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Technology Addiction, Public Health Nursing, School Health
- What is being tested?
- technology addiction prevention program
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 84 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Mar 2024to 16 Jan 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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 17 to 24 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- University students who scored 37 and above on the young internet addiction test short form
- University students who scored 49 and above on the technology addiction scale
- First grade university students
Who cannot join
- Mentally unstable
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Beykent University
Istanbul, BEYLİKDÜZÜ., 34520
About this study
Due to the increasing use of technological devices among adolescents, technology addiction is a serious public health problem that requires intervention. In order to cope with this problem, it is necessary to develop programs that have proven effects and are suitable for our culture and the psychosocial development of the age group in question. In the project planned to be carried out in two stages, university students at risk of technology addiction will be identified and the effect of the developed technology addiction prevention program will be evaluated. In these days when national combat studies on behavioral addictions are initiated in our country, the results of the research will contribute to the development of national action plans in the fight against technology addiction. The purpose of this doctoral thesis is to evaluate the effect of the technology addiction prevention program for university students at risk of technology addiction.
Read the detailed description
Although it is generally used for leisure purposes, the increase in technological device and internet use affects all age groups and has positive and negative effects on public health. These effects lead to various behavioral problems, especially in adolescents. As a result of the unconscious, excessive, uncontrolled and pathological use of technological devices, behavioral mental health problems such as "technology addiction" emerge. When some studies revealing the prevalence of game addiction among adolescents in European countries are examined, it is seen that it varies between 2.2% and 30.4%. In studies in Türkiye, according to the results of the research conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) with children aged 6-15 in 2021, internet usage rates in children were 82.7% and regular internet usage rates increased. It was found that internet usage and gaming rates were higher in boys than in girls. It is seen that the purpose of internet use is first for homework or learning purposes with 84.8% and second for playing games with 79.5%. 31.3% of children who use the internet regularly used social media. According to TUİK 2013 data, the rate of children who own at least one information technology product has increased. Many physical and psychological changes are observed during adolescence. Individuals' lifestyles and healthy life behaviors are shaped during this period. It is accepted that the use of technological tools and equipment, internet use and moderate gaming as part of a healthy lifestyle can have many positive effects such as emotional relaxation, strong peer support and social bonding. Behavioral problems arise as a result of excessive and uncontrolled use of technological tools. The main health problems that arise due to problematic technological tool and equipment use behavior include inadequate physical activity, unhealthy nutrition, vision or hearing problems, musculoskeletal system problems, sleep disorders, psychological problems such as depression, venous health problems such as thromboembolism and decreased academic success. Model-based approaches are needed to prevent health problems that arise in individuals as a result of problematic health behaviors and to create and develop positive healthy behaviors. Therefore, in this study, an educational program will be created using Cox's Health Behavior Interaction Model (SDEM) as a conceptual framework to evaluate the variables that affect university students' problematic technology use behaviors, the relationships between these variables, and to gain positive health behaviors. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a technology addiction prevention program for university students at risk of technology addiction.
- Conditions
- Technology Addiction, Public Health Nursing, School Health
- Being tested
- technology addiction prevention program
- Keywords
- school health, public health nursing, technology addiction
- Medical subject headings
- Technology Addiction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
technology addiction prevention programBehavioural
technology addiction prevention program
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| education | Experimental | The group that received a 7-week technology addiction prevention program Receives: Behavioral: technology addiction prevention program |
| plasebo | No intervention | The group that received a 7-week technology addiction prevention program |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
young internet addiction test short form
The internet addiction levels of university students will be determined with the technology addiction prevention program.
Measured: Baseline, Immediately after post-test, month 3 after the post test, month 6 after the post test
technology addiction scale
The technology addiction levels of university students will be determined with the technology addiction prevention program.
Measured: Baseline, Immediately after post-test, month 3 after the post test, month 6 after the post test
screen time
It will be used to measure students' screen time before the test, after the test and during follow-up.
Measured: Baseline, Immediately after post-test, month 3 after the post test, month 6 after the post test
number of steps
Raising awareness to increase physical activity through a technology addiction prevention program
Measured: Baseline, Immediately after post-test, month 3 after the post test, month 6 after the post test
Secondary outcomes (1)
sleeping duration
It will be determined whether there is any change in the student during the study.
Measured: Baseline, Immediately after post-test, month 3 after the post test, month 6 after the post test
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Apr 2025
- Study start1 Mar 2024
- Primary completion30 Jun 2025
- Study completion16 Jan 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Technology AddictionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 84 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Çiçek Önder, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- Investigators
- Çiçek ÖNDER, Principal investigator, Istanbul University - CerrahpasaAysun ARDIÇ, Study director, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06918691
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IUC-NURSE-CO-01
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Mar 2025
- Last updated
- 7 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: I don't want it to be visible
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect Of Technology Addiction Prevention Program On University Students At Risk For Technology Addiction
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06918691
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IUC-NURSE-CO-01
- Conditions
- Technology Addiction, Public Health Nursing, School Health
- Keywords
- school health, public health nursing, technology addiction
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 84 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul University - CerrahpasaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 16 Jan 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 9 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Due to the increasing use of technological devices among adolescents, technology addiction is a serious public health problem that requires intervention. In order to cope with this problem, it is necessary to develop programs that have proven effects and are suitable for our culture and the psychosocial development of the age group in question. In the project planned to be carried out in two stages, university students at risk of technology addiction will be identified and the effect of the developed technology addiction prevention program will be evaluated. In these days when national combat studies on behavioral addictions are initiated in our country, the results of the research will contribute to the development of national action plans in the fight against technology addiction. The purpose of this doctoral thesis is to evaluate the effect of the technology addiction prevention program for university students at risk of technology addiction.
Detailed description
Although it is generally used for leisure purposes, the increase in technological device and internet use affects all age groups and has positive and negative effects on public health. These effects lead to various behavioral problems, especially in adolescents. As a result of the unconscious, excessive, uncontrolled and pathological use of technological devices, behavioral mental health problems such as "technology addiction" emerge. When some studies revealing the prevalence of game addiction among adolescents in European countries are examined, it is seen that it varies between 2.2% and 30.4%. In studies in Türkiye, according to the results of the research conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) with children aged 6-15 in 2021, internet usage rates in children were 82.7% and regular internet usage rates increased. It was found that internet usage and gaming rates were higher in boys than in girls. It is seen that the purpose of internet use is first for homework or learning purposes with 84.8% and second for playing games with 79.5%. 31.3% of children who use the internet regularly used social media. According to TUİK 2013 data, the rate of children who own at least one information technology product has increased. Many physical and psychological changes are observed during adolescence. Individuals' lifestyles and healthy life behaviors are shaped during this period. It is accepted that the use of technological tools and equipment, internet use and moderate gaming as part of a healthy lifestyle can have many positive effects such as emotional relaxation, strong peer support and social bonding. Behavioral problems arise as a result of excessive and uncontrolled use of technological tools. The main health problems that arise due to problematic technological tool and equipment use behavior include inadequate physical activity, unhealthy nutrition, vision or hearing problems, musculoskeletal system problems, sleep disorders, psychological problems such as depression, venous health problems such as thromboembolism and decreased academic success. Model-based approaches are needed to prevent health problems that arise in individuals as a result of problematic health behaviors and to create and develop positive healthy behaviors. Therefore, in this study, an educational program will be created using Cox's Health Behavior Interaction Model (SDEM) as a conceptual framework to evaluate the variables that affect university students' problematic technology use behaviors, the relationships between these variables, and to gain positive health behaviors. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a technology addiction prevention program for university students at risk of technology addiction.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| education | Experimental | Behavioral: technology addiction prevention programThe group that received a 7-week technology addiction prevention program |
| plasebo | No intervention | –The group that received a 7-week technology addiction prevention program |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 17 to 24 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- University students who scored 37 and above on the young internet addiction test short form
- University students who scored 49 and above on the technology addiction scale
- First grade university students
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Mentally unstable
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| technology addiction prevention programtechnology addiction prevention program | Behavioural | education |
Primary outcome
young internet addiction test short form
Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after post-test, month 3 after the post test, month 6 after the post test
The internet addiction levels of university students will be determined with the technology addiction prevention program.
technology addiction scale
Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after post-test, month 3 after the post test, month 6 after the post test
The technology addiction levels of university students will be determined with the technology addiction prevention program.
screen time
Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after post-test, month 3 after the post test, month 6 after the post test
It will be used to measure students' screen time before the test, after the test and during follow-up.
number of steps
Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after post-test, month 3 after the post test, month 6 after the post test
Raising awareness to increase physical activity through a technology addiction prevention program
1 secondary outcome
sleeping duration
Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after post-test, month 3 after the post test, month 6 after the post test
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 May 2026.
- World health organizationLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. I don't want it to be visible
Related trials for Technology Addiction
RecruitingObservational study
Is Craving a Central Criterion for Diagnosing a Behavioral Addiction?
Addictive Behaviors, Internet Addiction Disorder
Active, not recruiting
Community-Based Intervention to Reduce Problematic Video Game Use in First-Year Secondary School Students: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
Video Game Addiction, Gaming Disorder
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Çiçek ÖNDER principal investigator
Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
Aysun ARDIÇ study director
Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing technology addiction prevention program in people with Technology Addiction and Public Health Nursing, run by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa 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 1 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 7 May 2026. 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?
young internet addiction test short form (time frame: Baseline, Immediately after post-test, month 3 after the post test, month 6 after the post test). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 7 May 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.