Abstract
AimTo investigate the dentists’ opinions towards social media (SM) use in daily practice and the expected limitations from its use in Saudi Arabia.MethodsAn electronic survey was carried out throughout May–June 2020 among a sample of dentists in Saudi Arabia. The survey covered three parts: the first part covered professional and demographic information, the second part covered the use of mobile phones and SM in dental practice, while the third part assessed dentists’ opinion on SM use. Descriptive statistics included frequency distributions and percentages and independent t test/ANOVA test for the relationship between the mean of dentists’ opinion towards SM and demographic variables. A p value of 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe majority of respondents (80%) believe that SM plays an active role in patients’ decisions regarding the selection of a healthcare provider. The mean dentists’ opinion scores on the use of SM were significantly lower among participants working more than 50 h per week compared with other participants (p = 0.014).ConclusionThe majority of sampled dentists believe that SM plays an active role in patients’ decisions regarding the healthcare provider’s selection. Directed campaigns can help dentists optimize the use of SM for both professional and personal purposes.
Highlights
There is an increase in social media (SM) use due to the increase in technological advancement
Given limited studies covering the use of SM by dentists in Saudi Arabia, this study aims to investigate dentists’ opinions towards the use of SM in daily practice and the expected limitations from its use
Half of the surveyed dentists have less than five years of experience
Summary
There is an increase in social media (SM) use due to the increase in technological advancement. It has changed how individuals communicate and share information. People nowadays are more dependent on SM to explore available services, including dental services viewing displayed information, customers’ feedback, and reviews. Rendering visible communication as an essential part of any dental clinic activity [1, 2]. Dental providers’ SM’s engagement is growing every day, becoming a. There have been mixed reviews on the benefits of using SM by healthcare providers.
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