Background: Children and adolescents' learning and daily lives are significantly affected
by digital devices, which are a global concern, including their overuse or addiction. Therefore, digital
addiction is recognized as a serious public health issue on a global level. So, it is crucial to apply
preventative and intervention strategies that motivate individuals to exercise more control over the
use of digital devices. Motivating interviewing is a counseling approach that involves enhancing a
patient's motivation to change. Aim: The study's purpose was to assess the effectiveness of
motivational interviewing counseling for mothers on the digital addiction level of their children.
Design: quasi-experimental included study and control groups. Setting: The study was carried out at
pediatric outpatient clinics of Benha University Hospital. Sample: Simple random sampling
technique was used in this study. It includes 200 mothers (100 for control group and 100 for study
group).Tools: two tools were utilized for data collection, I: pre-designed questionnaire, to assess the
demographic of the selected mothers and the personal data of children and technology using frequency
of the child. II: The digital addiction scale for children to assess the digital addiction level in children.
Results: There were highly statistically significance difference between two studied groups regarding
all items related to studied children's technology addiction score post motivational interviewing
counselling implementation. Conclusion: Motivational interviewing counselling is effective in
decreasing the level of children digital addiction. Recommendations: Training and counselling
programs are important for all community especially children to equip them by essential knowledge
and to increase their awareness regarding digital addiction. |
