THE ATTITUDES OF STUDENTS TOWARDS INSTAGRAM DENTAL MARKETING, ONLINE COMMUNICATION WITH DENTISTS, AND INFORMATION ABOUT ORAL HEALTH ON THE INTERNET

The attitudes of students towards dentistry on Internet

  • Antonije Stanković Faculty of Medicine Doctorial Studies, Universtiy of Niš, Niš, Serbia https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5873-774X
  • Marija Nikolić Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Clinic of Dental Medicine Niš, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5202-7497
  • Jelena Popović Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Clinic of Dental Medicine Niš, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5558-1066
  • Nenad Stošić Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Clinic of Dental Medicine Niš, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4792-7375
  • Aleksandar Mitić Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Clinic of Dental Medicine Niš, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia
  • Radomir Barac Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Clinic of Dental Medicine Niš, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6764-122X
  • Aleksandra Milovanović Faculty of Medicine Doctorial Studies, Universtiy of Niš, Niš, Serbia
Keywords: dentistry, students, Internet, social networks, Instagram, dental marketing

Abstract


Introduction: Information about oral health available on the Internet, videos of dental procedures on YouTube, and Facebook groups, whose members are dentists, have contributed to dentistry finding its place online.

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the attitudes and behavior of student population towards: dental marketing on Instagram, patient-dentist relationship through social media, and information about oral health found on the Internet.

Participants and Methods: The research included 226 students of the University of Niš, who participated in an anonymous online survey of 16 questions created in Google Forms.

Results: Every sixth respondent from those who follow a dental office on Instagram have chosen the office because of Instagram. Females search for dentists more frequently on the Internet than males. Most of the respondents, who are friends with dentist on a social network, still most often contact them by phone. The oldest respondents do not find it appropriate to be friends with a dentist on social media. The majority of those who are unsure about the accuracy of oral health informations from the Internet, do not discuss them with their dentist.

Conclusion: Instagram does not play a key role in the choice of a dentist among respondents, and communication with a dentist through social media is less prevalent than other forms of communication with a dentist. However, more than half of the respondents consult the Internet before going to the dentist.

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Published
2024/02/23
Section
Original Scientific Paper