Effect of Web-Based Educational Sessions on Mothers’ Knowledge and Practices regarding Screen Time Hazards and Safety for Young Children

Background: Many young children around the world are spending more time viewing screen, but recent research shows that screen media use may have severe adverse effects on children's health over the long term, making this an insistent public health concern. So, this study aimed to: evaluate the effect of web-based educational sessions on mothers’ knowledge and practices regarding screen time safety and hazards for young children. Research Design: pre/post-test quasi-experimental design was utilized to conduct this study. Subjects: A purposive sample of 128 mothers employed at Sohag University. Data collection tools: Tool I: A structured interviewing questionnaire includes mother's socio-demographic data, children characteristics and data related to electronic screen used by children. Tool II: Mothers, knowledge assessment sheet. Tool III: Mothers, reported practices assessment sheet. Results: 27.3% of mothers had satisfactory level of knowledge regarding electronic screens before the implementation of educational sessions, compared to 83.6% post-implementation (P=.001**). Also, 11.7% of mothers had an adequate level of practices regarding electronic screens before the implementation of the educational sessions compared to 71.1% post-implementation with (P=.001**). Conclusion: Implementation of web-based educational sessions was effective in enhancing mothers, knowledge and practices regarding screen time safety and hazards for young children. Recommendations: Additional research that assesses the long-term effects of the teaching program about safety screen time for kids of various ages.