SILLIMAN University nursing students brought Philippine research to the regional stage after presenting a qualitative study on preschool children’s screen time at the Sigma Asia Regional Conference 2025 in Hong Kong.

The delegation was composed of Level IV student researchers Adrian Arthur Chi Cuadra, Maria Isabel de Guia Juntereal, Charles Esguerra Nellas, Gloriluz Ganhinhin Parami, Ma. Laurice Aesabelle Montano Rodriguez, Cherelle Marice Saceda Sobong, and Dorene Felizceti de la Torre Yee.

Their study found that while screen exposure may support language development, learning skills, and critical thinking, excessive or unsupervised use was linked to physical strain, sleep disruption, and behavioral concerns among preschoolers.

Caregivers interviewed for the research emphasized the need for active supervision, time limits, and a balance between digital activities and physical play to support healthy child development.

Faculty members also strengthened Silliman University’s presence at the conference, with a nursing professor presenting a separate research paper and another serving as a judge for oral presentations, underscoring the institution’s continued engagement in regional nursing scholarship.

Themed “Digital Health and AI in Nursing: Transforming Care Through Innovation,” the conference gathered more than 550 nursing professionals and scholars from 19 countries to discuss emerging issues in nursing education and practice.