Reducing Digital Distractions to Improve Time Management Among Nursing Students
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Digital Abstinence Intervention.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Problematic Smartphone Use, Digital Distraction, Time Management. Basic parameters: 18 years — 25 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Saudi Arabia
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Reducing Digital Distractions to Improve Time Management Among Nursing Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study of a Brief Digital Abstinence Intervention
Overview
This study examines whether a short digital abstinence intervention can reduce digital distractions and improve time management among undergraduate nursing students. Excessive smartphone and social media use has been associated with decreased academic productivity, impaired concentration, and poor time management in university students, particularly in demanding programs such as nursing. This quasi-experimental study will evaluate the effectiveness of a brief intervention in which participants limit or abstain from non-academic smartphone use for a defined period. Nursing students will be assessed before and after the intervention using validated measures of digital distraction and time management. The findings of this study aim to determine whether reducing digital distractions can enhance students' ability to manage their time effectively and improve their academic focus. The results may inform strategies for promoting healthier digital habits and improving academic performance among nursing students.
Interventions
- Behavioral Digital Abstinence Intervention
Participants assigned to the intervention group will receive a brief behavioral intervention designed to reduce non-academic smartphone and social media use. The intervention encourages temporary abstinence or substantial reduction of digital activities that contribute to distraction. Participants will be guided to monitor their smartphone use and minimize engagement with non-essential digital platforms during the intervention period. The goal of the intervention is to reduce digital distraction
Primary outcome measures
- Change in Time Management Score [Time frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention period If your study used a specific named instrument, replace the description with the exact scale name. For example:]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
Undergraduate nursing students enrolled in the nursing program.
Aged between 18 and 25 years.
Regular users of smartphones and social media.
Willing to participate in the digital abstinence intervention and complete study questionnaires.
Able to provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
Students currently participating in another behavioral or digital-use intervention study.
Students with medical or psychological conditions that may interfere with study participation.
Students who do not regularly use smartphones or digital media.
Students who decline or withdraw consent to participate in the study.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Other
Study locations
Saudi Arabia · 1 center
- King Faisal — Jeddah
Publications
- Luo Z, Zhou R, Nong K, Peng X, Chen L, Li P, Deng S, Ou M, Hao X, Ye L, Wang Y, Chen G, Li S, Zhu T. Digital Health Interventions in Pediatric Perioperative Care: A Network Meta-Analysis. JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Nov 1;179(11):1153-1161. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.3099. PMID 40952714
- Ramadhan RN, Rampengan DD, Yumnanisha DA, Setiono SB, Tjandra KC, Ariyanto MV, Idrisov B, Empitu MA. Impacts of digital social media detox for mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Narra J. 2024 Aug;4(2):e786. doi: 10.52225/narra.v4i2.786. Epub 2024 Aug 7. PMID 39280291
- Setia S, Gilbert F, Tichy ML, Redpath J, Shahzad N, Marraccini ME. Digital Detox Strategies and Mental Health: A Comprehensive Scoping Review of Why, Where, and How. Cureus. 2025 Jan 30;17(1):e78250. doi: 10.7759/cureus.78250. eCollection 2025 Jan. PMID 40026988
- Marciano L, Jindal S, Viswanath K. Digital Detox and Well-Being. Pediatrics. 2024 Oct 1;154(4):e2024066142. doi: 10.1542/peds.2024-066142. PMID 39285845
- Albarqi MN, Almulhim MY, Albana MA. The impact of a brief digital abstinence intervention on digital distractions and time management among nursing students: a quasi-experimental study. BMC Nurs. 2026 Jun 24. doi: 10.1186/s12912-026-04904-5. Online ahead of print. PMID 42343280
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07467057 · 3ertrt