Medical training to prevent techno-addiction in adolescents and young people through University Extension

Abstract

This article analyzes the growing problem of techno-addiction in children and young people, derived from the excessive use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). The authors highlight the urgency of preventive actions given the lack of information on the risks to mental health and development. To face this challenge, they propose integrating University Extension into medical training, training students as health promoters through the "Interacting with ICTs" project. This project includes educational interventions in schools, the design of guidance protocols, university workshops, and media campaigns, aligned with the Cuban E Curriculum and the Ottawa Charter (1986). The article emphasizes the potential of medical universities to combine teaching, research, and community projects—such as "Psychological Sciences in Vocational Training"—and thus promote the responsible use of ICTs. It concludes by highlighting the need for a multisectoral approach that prioritizes prevention, taking advantage of institutional strengths and the social role of future physicians.