The Use of Social Media on Enhancing Dental Care and Practice Among Dental Professionals: Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Abstract

Background: As digitalization continues to advance globally, the health care sector, including dental practice, increasingly recognizes social media as a vital tool for health care promotion, patient recruitment, marketing, and communication strategies. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the use of social media and assess its impact on enhancing dental care and practice among dental professionals in the Philippines. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among dental practitioners in the Philippines. The study used a 23-item questionnaire, which included 5 questions on dentists’ background and demographic information and 18 questions regarding the use, frequency, and purpose of social media in patient advising and quality of care improvement. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, with frequency distributions and χ2 tests used to assess the association between social media use and demographic variables and the impact on dental practice. Results: The 265 dental practitioners in this study were predominantly female (n=204, 77%) and aged between 20-30 years (n=145, 54.7%). Most of the participants were general practitioners (n=260, 98.1%) working in a private practice (n=240, 90.6%), with 58.5% (n=155) having 0-5 years of clinical experience. Social media use was significantly higher among younger practitioners (20-30 years old) compared to older age groups (P