Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40660635›Full record

SynthesisChild and adolescent mental health2025

Review Article: The effectiveness of school-based interventions for reducing screen time - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Nai Ming Lai, Yin Sear Lim, Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk, Shaun Wen Huey Lee, Tippawan Liabsuetrakul, Mohammad Sabbir, S M Hasan Mahmud, Umme Ruman Siddiqi, Tanvir Ahmed, Faheem U L Hasan and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Child and adolescent mental health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Nai Ming LaiSchool of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4204-3098
Yin Sear LimSchool of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia.
Nathorn ChaiyakunaprukDepartment of Pharmacotherapy, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Shaun Wen Huey LeeSchool of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.
Tippawan LiabsuetrakulDepartment of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand.
Mohammad SabbirInstitute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
S M Hasan MahmudDirectorate General of Health Services, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Umme Ruman SiddiqiDirectorate General of Health Services, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Tanvir AhmedUpazila Health and Family Planning Office, Keraniganj Upazila Health Complex, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Faheem U L HasanDepartment of Medicine, M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital, Dinajpur, Bangladesh.
Pei Xuan KuanDigital Health Research and Innovation, Institute for Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health, Setia Alam, Malaysia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundExcessive screen time is associated with adverse physical and mental well-being for children. Interventions to reduce screen time in different settings have been studied extensively, with mixed findings. We systematically reviewed evidence that evaluated the effects of screen time reduction interventions conducted in school settings on screen usage, physical, and mental health of school children.

methodsPubMed, Cochrane, PsycInfo, and Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC) (from inception till 12 September 2024) were searched for relevant randomised and cluster-randomised trials. We assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias 2 tool, performed Bayesian random-effects meta-analysis, and rated certainty of evidence using GRADE.

resultsThirty-nine studies (95,033 participants), published between 1999 and 2024, were included. High risk of bias and great heterogeneity contributed to low-certainty evidence for most outcomes. School-based interventions modestly reduced screen time (SMD: -0.10, 95% CrI: -0.14, -0.06, 27 studies, n = 19,751, I

conclusionsSchool-based interventions modestly reduce screen time and increase physical activity, but their effects on BMI are inconclusive. Variations in local school systems and cultural practices might have contributed to heterogeneity in study findings and should be considered in policy decisions. Future studies should strengthen the cluster-randomization process and include academic performance as an outcome.

Indexed as

ExerciseSchool Health ServicesScreen TimeAdolescentChildHumansSchoolsphysical activityschoolScreen timesedentary time

Identifiers

PMID40660635
PMCPMC12351200

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.