Methodology to Derive Objective Screen-State from Smartphones: A SMART Platform Study

Time on screens (screen time) on multiple digital devices (computers, mobile phones, tablets, television screens, etc.) due to varied motivations (work, leisure, entertainment, gaming, etc.) has become an integral part of population behaviour. However, a significant evidence gap exists in screen time accumulated over ubiquitous mobile devices such as smartphones. This study aimed to develop an accurate, reliable and replicable methodology to derive objective screen time (i.e., screen-state) from all types of citizen-owned smartphones. A convenience sample of 538 adults (≥18 years) from two largest urban centres in Saskatchewan, Canada (Regina and Saskatoon) was recruited in 2017 and 2018. Participants used a custom-built smartphone application to provide objective and subjective data. A novel methodology was developed to derive objective screen-state, and these data were compared with subjective measures. The findings showed that objective screen-state from smartphones can be derived and assessed across a range of cut-points that take into consideration varied measurement errors. When objective measures were compared with subjective reporting, the results indicated that participants consistently underreported screen time. This study not only provides a methodology to derive objective screen-state from ubiquitous mobile devices such as smartphones but also emphasises the need to capture context via subjective measures.