Night-time Screen Media Use in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

This prospective observational study quantified screen media use within the night-time pre-sleep period in a pediatric intensive care unit and postulated possible implications. Seventy-five patients between the ages of newborn to 19 years old were observed 5 evenings per week for 3 weeks. Trained observers documented the patient’s screen use, type of screen used, screen engagement, sleep state, light level, and parental presence. Patients in the ICU had on average 65 minutes of screen media use, per evening. The total screen media use averaged 59 minutes for the 0 to18-month age group; 83 minutes for the 18 to 24-month age group; 66 minutes for 2 to 6 year olds; 72 minutes for 6 to 13 year olds; and 74 minutes for those above 13. This research demonstrates that children are engaging in more screen time during the night hours than is recommended by the AAP.