Navigating between bits and reality: the crucial role of nursing in the fight against video game addiction

Abstract

Currently, there is sufficient empirical, clinical and scientific evidence to consider that excessive gaming can be problematic and addictive, especially in online video games. Pathological use occurs when there is dysfunctional use that harms the individual at a family, social, work, school, behavioral and/or psychological level. Objective: Apply nursing care to adolescents with video game addiction. Material and Methods A systematic review of scientific articles, information from local newspapers, clinical cases in Spanish and English related to the research topic was carried out, searching for electronic information in the following databases: Latindex, Dialnet, Scielo. The development of a theoretical structure based on the documentary review is essential for the orientation of the review. A clinical case was carried out based on evidence (EBE). Results: In this society, where the number of images, videos and posts on social networks increasingly prevails, moderate use should be encouraged, particularly of the mobile phone, and educate young people in a culture of camaraderie, tolerance, respect, where the fact of sharing feelings, opinions, experiences directly face to face is what prevails when doing so. Conclusions: Health professionals, and more specifically nursing, have a wide range of interventions to promote a healthy adaptation of new technologies to young people who are increasingly blinded in their virtual lives, highlighting the importance of the role of families, teachers and caregivers to achieve the set objectives.