Effectiveness of a Structured Program for Neck Disability Awareness and Corrective Exercise in Individuals with Text Neck Syndrome: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an instructional program in enhancing individuals' awareness regarding the prevention of neck disability and corrective exercises for Text Neck Syndrome (TNS). It also sought to explore the relationship between participants’ awareness and their demographic characteristics. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed using non-probability purposive sampling at the Kirkuk Center for Rehabilitation. A total of 40 participants with a Neck Disability Index (NDI) score of 5 or higher (≥10%) were included and assigned to study and control groups. Individuals with a history of neck surgery were excluded. Both groups completed pre- and post-tests. The study group received a structured instructional program over four weeks, consisting of weekly 45-60 minute sessions covering TNS anatomy, prevention strategies and corrective exercises, supported by visual materials. Data collection involved a validated and reliable questionnaire (test-retest reliability = 0.80) and analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26.0. Results: No significant differences were found in baseline demographic characteristics between the groups. In the study group, awareness of preventive measures increased significantly from 55% low to 95% good and awareness of corrective exercises improved from 95% poor to 100% good in the post-test. Effect sizes were large (~0.88) for both outcomes, indicating strong intervention impact. In contrast, the control group showed minimal improvement with smaller effect sizes (0.497 for prevention and 0.316 for corrective exercises). A statistically significant association was observed between occupational status and awareness (p = 0.013), while other demographic factors showed no significant relationships (p>0.05). Conclusions: The structured instructional program led to significant improvements in awareness in the intervention group, with effect sizes indicating a strong impact, while the control group exhibited minimal changes.