Smartphone Addiction in Fibromyalgia

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between daily smartphone screen time (DSST), smartphone addiction (SA), and total fibromyalgia impact (TFI) among patients with fibromyalgia. Additionally, to assess the effect of a physician-led educational session on SA and TFI.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial conducted at a physiatry clinic, 83 patients with fibromyalgia were enrolled (intervention group: N=42; control group: N=41). The mean age was 40.36 ± 6.54 years (intervention) and 40.90 ± 9.42 years (control). The intervention group received a single physician-led educational session on fibromyalgia and the potential negative effects of SA. Both groups received diaries to monitor daily activities. Primary outcomes included SA (measured by the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, SAS-SV) and TFI (measured by the revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, FIQR) at baseline and on day 20. Secondary outcomes included DSST and daily exercise time (DET) tracked during the 20-day period.

Results: Younger and single patients exhibited higher SA levels. Both groups showed improvement in DSST, DET, SA, and TFI over 20 days. Improvements were greater in the intervention group, although differences between groups were not statistically significant. A higher educational level was associated with greater reductions in SA and TFI. Reductions in SA scores correlated positively with reductions in TFI scores.

Conclusion: Daily monitoring using diaries, with or without a one-time educational session, contributed to improvements in SA and TFI among fibromyalgia patients. The lack of significant differences between groups suggests that continuous engagement may be more impactful than a single educational session. The association between reduced smartphone addiction and fibromyalgia impact highlights the potential role of non-pharmacological strategies in fibromyalgia management.