Main uses of Instagram in oral health research–A scoping review

Abstract

ObjectivesInfodemiology is an emerging field in public health research. The aim of the present study was to provide an overview of the literature on the use of Instagram as an infodemiological tool in oral health research. MethodsA scoping review approach was carried out. MEDLINE-PubMed, EMBASE and SCOPUS databases, together with medRxiv and JMIR Publications platforms, were searched for studies representing oral health research which employed Instagram as a tool to obtain at least part of the results. Three independent reviewers performed the study screening. A descriptive analysis was carried out according to the way which Instagram was used in research. ResultsWe included 30 reports describing 28 studies. The approaches for using Instagram in oral health research were post's content analysis (13 reports), infoveillance (six reports), sample recruitment (five reports) and as a platform to deliver an exposure or intervention (six reports). Four reports were published in 2019, 13 in 2020 and 13 in 2021. Topics related to patient experiences, misinformation, professional education, plaque control and ethical compliance were highlighted. ConclusionsWe described new opportunities in this growing field by the identification of four main uses of Instagram in oral health research and encourage dental professionals to support accurate and ethical knowledge translation in this social media. Future studies using Instagram as a data source must improve search and evaluation quality. Public Interest SummaryInfodemiology (information epidemiology) is a growing field in public health research and the interest in Instagram social media has increased during the pandemic scenario. On the light of these aspects, a literature overview may be important to describe new opportunities for researchers. Using a scoping review approach, we found that Instagram can be used in oral health research as a source to content analysis and information surveillance, as well as a platform to sample recruitment and to deliver an exposure or intervention. Topics related to patient experiences, misinformation, professional education, plaque control and ethical compliance were highlighted in the included studies. Our results may help to delineate further research using Instagram and encourage dental professionals to support accurate and ethical knowledge translation in this social media. Finally, future studies using Instagram as a data source must improve search and evaluation quality.