Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40750289›Full record

Observational studyBMJ open2025

iKids study protocol: a longitudinal study to understand the impact of interactive electronic devices on the development and health of young children in England.

Liane Beretta De Azevedo, John Stephenson, Amy Hughes, Jenny Retzler, John J Reilly, Stuart Fairclough, Tony Okely, Daniel Jones, Christine Smith, João Paulo de Aguiar Greca and 1 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readMulticenter StudyObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06810570 (Understanding the Impact of Interactive Electronic Devices on Young Children's Development and Health), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–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.

NCT06810570 recruitingnot on this map

Understanding the Impact of Interactive Electronic Devices on Young Children's Development and Health: the iKids Study

TypeobservationalSponsorSheffield Hallam UniversityRan2025 to 2027Enrolled874ConditionsDevelopment and Health, Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms, Cognition, Physical Health
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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.

Liane Beretta De AzevedoSheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK L.Azevedo@shu.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9966-9414
John StephensonHealth Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK.
Amy HughesSheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.
Jenny RetzlerUniversity of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
John J ReillyUniversity of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
Stuart FaircloughHealth Research Institute and Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK.
Tony OkelySchool of Education, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
Daniel JonesTeesside University, Middlesbrough, UK.
Christine SmithChristine Smith Consultancy, Huddersfield, UK.
João Paulo de Aguiar GrecaHuman Nutrition and Exercise Research Centre, Newcastle University Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Colette MarrSheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThere is evidence of both positive and negative impacts of interactive electronic devices (IEDs), such as tablets and smartphones, on young children's development and health outcomes. Consultations with early years practitioners, parents and policy makers recognise IEDs as a valuable resource for early-year learning. However, concerns exist regarding their potential negative impacts on children's self-regulation, parent-child interaction and physical activity.The primary aim of this study is to understand the longitudinal impact of IED use, in particular duration (hours per day) and mode (educational vs non-educational; age-appropriate vs non-age-appropriate), on emerging abilities (ie, self-regulation, social development, executive function, language and numeracy) in 3-year-old to 5-year-old children. The secondary aims are to explore the impact of IEDs on health-related outcomes (ie, body mass index and motor skills), behavioural outcomes (ie, movement behaviour, parent-child interaction) and educational outcomes (ie, school readiness). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We aim to recruit 1377 children from economically diverse areas in the Mid and North of England, UK. We will measure children's exposure to IEDs using a mobile sensing application tool which records app usage, while the primary outcome, emerging abilities, will be measured through the Early Years Toolbox. The secondary outcome measures will include the following: accelerometry (24-hour movement behaviour), National Institute of Health (NIH) Toolbox (motor skills), STIM-Q preschool questionnaire (parent-child interaction) and early years foundation stage profile (school readiness). We will employ multilevel regression models to examine the association between IED duration and mode with emerging abilities. We hope this study will contribute to the development of guidelines for parents and educators regarding the use of IEDs. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has received approval from Sheffield Hallam University (ID: ER69550320). Engagement with the public and stakeholders will guide the dissemination plan. The insights gained from this project will be shared through publications and will inform policy briefs distributed to health and educational organisations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT06810570.

Indexed as

Child DevelopmentComputers, HandheldSmartphoneChild, PreschoolEnglandExerciseFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMobile ApplicationsParent-Child RelationsBehaviorChildDigital TechnologyObservational StudyPUBLIC HEALTH

Identifiers

PMID40750289
PMCPMC12314959

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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.