Problematic use of the Internet in low- and middle-income countries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

The use of social media platforms in adult basic life support research: a scoping review

Background

Social media (SoMe) is expanding globally, with increasing adoption in research, including resuscitation science. Its widespread reach and growing influence make it a valuable tool for research and knowledge dissemination. We aimed to assess the utilization of SoMe, highlight its applications, and identify future research areas, specifically in data collection and analysis, education and training, and professional networking and collaboration.

Methods

Embase, Scopus, and PubMed were searched through October 30th, 2024. Titles and abstracts were screened, and duplicates removed. The PCC (Population, Concept, and Context) framework defined the population as SoMe users, the concept as adult BLS-related content, and the context as SoMe platforms used for data analysis, data collection, teaching, campaigns, communication, and sharing, excluding traditional media.

Results

The search yielded 5,427 articles, with 201 undergoing full-text review and 42 included. Most studies were from high-income countries (19/42; 45%) and had a cross-sectional design (16/42; 36%). SoMe was primarily used for data analysis (17/42; 41%) and data collection (16/42; 36%). YouTube and X were the frequently applied SoMe platforms (12 studies each; 29%), while Instagram and WhatsApp supported diverse applications. In contrast, Snapchat and TikTok were used less frequently and for narrower purposes.

Conclusions

Existing studies focus on data collection and analysis, mainly via YouTube and X, but inconsistencies in design and geography call for standardized reporting to enhance comparability and impact. Future studies could standardize reporting on SoMe applications in adult BLS using established frameworks to ensure comparability and effectiveness.

The role of advocacy and policy in advancing global neurosurgery

Global neurosurgery has witnessed transformative developments in advocacy and policy aimed at overcoming the barriers that hinder equitable access to neurosurgical care. This paper reveals the stark disparities faced by low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with an annual burden of 5 million affected individuals. Despite these challenges, the emergence of global neurosurgery stands as a beacon of hope, aspiring to deliver timely, safe, and affordable neurosurgical care. Advocacy and policy play pivotal roles in this endeavour, exemplified by initiatives, like National Surgical, Obstetrics, and Anesthesia Plans (NSOAPs) and Global Neurosurgery Initiatives (GNI), addressing accessibility, training, and disparities. Collaborations between diverse entities and interdisciplinary approaches gain prominence, fostering comprehensive advocacy and policy frameworks. A resolute commitment to equity is discernible, propelling policies toward universal access to neurosurgical care. However, crucial challenges, such as limited resources, awareness gaps, complex political landscapes, data deficiencies, and insufficient international collaborations, must be addressed to see the full potential of these initiatives. While challenges persist, progress is evident through collaborative efforts, technological advancements, and evolving policy landscapes, promising a trajectory toward accessible, safe, and affordable neurosurgical care for all.

A Cross-Sectional Study on Problematic Media Use (PMU) in Indian Children and Its Association With Behavioral Issues and Parenting Styles During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

During the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing and restrictions on the people's movement were imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19. With significant social restrictions, digital media emerged as the key to socialization and daily functioning. Psychological and behavioral issues have been reported in children with excessive screen use. A cross-sectional online study was conducted to evaluate problematic media use (PMU) among children, its impact on behavior, and its association with parenting styles. Data were recorded using a questionnaire for sociodemographic, screen use details and behavioral issues (temper tantrums, disruptive behavior, sleep issues, etc.), Problematic Media Use Measure Short Form (PMUM - SF), and Parenting Styles & Dimensions Questionnaire - Short Version (PSDQ - SF). A total of 253 parents responded, and 218 completed questionnaires were analyzed (mean age = 9.29; SD = 3.07). Sixteen percent (N=35) of the population showed PMU, most of whom (62.86%) belonged to the 6-to11-year age group. PMU was significantly associated with behavioral issues in the form of temper tantrums (p<0.01), clingy/attention-seeking behavior, sleep disturbances, and appetite issues (p<0.05). Authoritarian (p=0.001) and permissive (p=0.000) parenting styles were significantly higher in children with PMU. The study provides a snapshot of the situation during the initial phases of the pandemic regarding PMU in children and shows its behavioral impact. It also highlights the importance of parenting styles and the possibility of developing parental skills to curtail PMU.

The Worldwide Prevalence of Internet Addiction among Medical Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

The internet helps us obtain necessary information, facilitates social communication, and provides access to entertainment content. The internet can also lead to the behavioral addictive condition termed internet addiction (IA) if used excessively. As active internet users, medical students are susceptible to IA, which is known to lead to depression and improper medical care delivery, poor academic performance, worse sleep quality, and undesirable financial issues. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess medical students' pooled IA prevalence.

METHODS

The analysis included thirteen cross-sectional studies involving 4787 medical students. Cumulative, subgroup, and meta-regression meta-analyses were applied, using the random-effects model and the restricted maximum likelihood method.

RESULTS

The cumulative meta-analysis revealed a rise in the proportion of IA from 0.08 to 0.29, with minor fluctuations between 2015 and 2022. The IA prevalence in lower-middle-income countries was approximately three times higher than in high-income ones. Age and gender were not associated with IA among medical students.

CONCLUSIONS

The worldwide prevalence of IA was 0.29, with a 95% CI between 0.19 and 0.41. Considering negative IA implications for medical students' well-being, policymakers and all stakeholders should pay special attention to addressing IA within the medical student community.

Problematic Use of the Internet and Well-Being among Youth from a Global Perspective: A Mediated-Moderated Model of Socio-Emotional Factors

Problematic Use of the Internet (PUI) is characterized as the inability to control one's internet use or as an excessive use of the internet that may result in social, psychological, and emotional difficulties (Fernandes et al., 2019). It is regarded nowadays as an increasingly worrisome public heath issue, especially among youth. This study explored the contexts in which youth PUI occurs and its associations with socio-emotional functioning that may lead to a decrease in one's sense of well-being. We conducted this exploration among 783 middle school students from the US (425 students; 54.27%) and Israel (358 students; 45.73%). The overall age of both samples ranged between 12 and 16 (M = 13.94, SD = 1.59). In the Israeli sample, 49.1% of the students were girls and 50.9% were boys, whereas in the US sample, 48.8% were girls and 51.2% were boys. The study examined the role of depressive mood, loneliness, resilience, self-control, and school engagement in mediating the relationship between PUI and well-being, and how country of origin might moderate these relationships. Results indicate PUI was related to lower well-being only for the US sample. Yet, for both samples, higher loneliness was related to lower well-being, and higher school engagement was related to higher well-being. A moderated mediation analysis revealed the socio-emotional variables were all mediators in these associations, but differently for each country sample. The study results are discussed according to key factors required for developing intervention programs for coping with youth PUI behaviors.

The association of problematic usage of the internet with burnout, depression, insomnia, and quality of life among Hungarian high school students

Introduction

The extensive availability of the internet has led to the recognition of problematic usage of the internet (PUI) or so called internet addiction (IA), probably mostly involving adolescents.

Aim

Here we present a study focusing on the incidence and consequences (including burnout, which is relatively rarely studied) of internet addiction among high school students using a questionnaire-based non-random sampling cross-sectional survey. Included questionnaires were the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey for Students MBI-GS (S), the 9-item short version of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-SF), the Athens Insomnia Questionnaire and the EQ-5D (quality of life) questionnaire. Data were evaluated the exertion of Student's t-test, chi square test and Pearson's rank-order correlation. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the significance of the different parameters as independently associated with PUI.

Results

Overall 3,000 paper-based questionnaires were successfully delivered and 2,540 responses received (response rate of 84.6%). 1,309 males (mean age 17.6 ± 1.43 years) (51.5%) and 1,231 females (mean age 17.5 ± 1.4 years) (48.5%) took part in our study. Problematic usage of the internet was detected in 486 (19.1%) students (232 males, mean age 17.6 ± 1.35 years and 254 females, mean age 17.34 ± 1.37 years). In a logistic regression analysis sleep disturbance (OR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.83-2.03), depression (OR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.77-2.02) and burnout (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.16-1.94) were significantly associated with PUI.

Conclusion

Nearly one fifth of our study population suffered from PUI, which was strongly associated with school burnout, insomnia and depression, which underlines the importance of this phenomenon.

Correlation Between Chronotypes and Depressive Symptoms Mediated by Sleep Quality Among Chinese College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted the mental health of the population. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate the correlations between chronotypes, sleep quality, and depressive symptoms.

Participants and Methods

In the current study, 2526 college students responded anonymously to an online questionnaire survey from 26 May 2020 to 20 July 2020. The participants' chronotypes, sleep quality, and depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Morning and Evening Questionnaire-5 (MEQ-5), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Sociodemographic information of the participants was also acquired. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 19.0 software, with the mediating effect assessed by Hayes' PROCESS Macro.

Results

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances among Chinese college students surveyed was 54.95% and 48.18%, respectively. From absolute evening chronotype to absolute morning chronotype, the surveyed college students' chronotypes were negatively correlated with their depressive symptoms. Moreover, the mediation analysis showed that the correlation between chronotypes and depressive symptoms was fully mediated by sleep quality. Eveningness college students with poorer sleep quality were more likely to report higher levels of depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that during the COVID-19 pandemic, delayed circadian preference (ie, eveningness) may be linked to worse depressive symptoms among Chinese college students, and call for more attention to the sleep quality of Chinese college students as sleep quality fully mediated the correlation between chronotypes and depressive symptoms among them. Reasonable adjustment in bedtime/circadian preference and improvement in sleep quality may help to reduce the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms among Chinese college students.