Objective To evaluate the effect of applying sitting posture corrector on improving reading and writing posture of elementary school students， and provide scientific evidence for prevention and control of myopia in children and adolescents.
Methods One elementary school each in urban and suburban areas of Shanghai was selected using a convenience sampling strategy. Furthermore， two classes each in Grade 3 and 4 were selected as the intervention group （282 students were included in the study）， and the other two classes each in Grades 3 and 4 were selected as the control group （294 students were included in the study）. Students in the intervention group used the sitting posture corrector in the classrooms for 4 months （from September 2020 to January 2021）， while those in the control group did not use the sitting posture corrector. Relevant data were collected before and after the intervention through a self-administered questionnaire and visual examination. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test and generalized estimating equation.
Results Before the intervention， 13.5% （38/282） of students in the intervention group and 12.2% （36/294） in the control group had good reading and writing posture （χ2=0.195，P>0.659）. After the intervention， 18.4% （52/282） of students in the intervention group had good reading and writing posture， which was higher than that （11.2%， 33/294） in the control group （χ2=5.957，P=0.015）. Before and after the intervention， there was no significant differences in the prevalence of myopia between students in the intervention and control groups （all P>0.05）. Generalized estimating equation analysis showed that students in the intervention group were 1.502 times more likely to have good reading and writing posture than those in the control group after the intervention （P=0.043）.
Conclusion Applying sitting posture corrector in schools could improve students' reading and writing posture.
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