Assessment of Attitudes and Practices Related to Social Media Usage among Dental Practitioners in their Dental Practice in Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad City: A Cross-sectional Survey
Tanushri Dalvi
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Mahrashtra, India.
Shrivardhan Kalghatgi *
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Mahrashtra, India.
Samruddhi Metha
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra, India.
Amol Karagir
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra, India.
Madhuri Sale
Department of Oral Pathology, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra, India.
Dipali Deshpande
Department of Conservative and Endodontics, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Mahrashtra, India.
Chetan Patil
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Mahrashtra, India.
Swapnil Metha
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Mahrashtra, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: In the last few decades, information and communication technology in social media has brought tremendous changes in the whole business, educational and political system; Dentistry is not an exception. The rise of social media has transformed how health professionals interact with their patients and deliver different types of health care services.
Aim: To assess the attitudes and practices related to social media usage among dental practitioners in Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad city.
Methods: A self-designed questionnaire survey was conducted among all dental practitioners in Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad city, Maharashtra, India. The questionnaire consisted of first part with socio-demographic variables like age, gender, years of experience and area of expertise and second part to assess attitudes and practices towards social media usage.
Results: Among total of 138 dental practitioners, majority (68.1%) were belonging to age of 36-44 years followed by those above 45 years of age (17.4%). Around 49.3% dental practitioners were practicing dentistry since less than 5 years. Gender wise comparison showed no significant difference between attitudes and practices for social media usage. Although significant difference was found for question 3, 6 and 11 for P < 0.05.
Conclusion: There has been wide adoption of social media among dental practitioners and shows no significant difference with different genders for both attitudes and practices.
Keywords: Social media, dental practitioners, dentistry