Assessment of social media usage and its influence among dental faculty members in Davangere city – A cross sectional survey

Abstract

Background: Rapid increases in dental knowledge and associated technologies, a growing integration of evidence-based practice into the curriculum, and shifting faculty roles (from lecturers and content experts to facilitators) have profoundly altered dental education. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the usage of social media and its influence on clinical practice among dental faculty members of dental colleges in Davangere city. Materials and Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out among the convenience sample of 88 dental faculty members of two dental colleges in Davangere city. An investigator-designed questionnaire comprising 15 close-ended questions related to the usage and various aspects of the influence of social media was used as a tool in the present survey. Ethical clearance was obtained from Institutional Review Board of Ethics committee of college. Descriptive statistics were generated regarding frequencies and percentages. Results: Among the participants, 64.8% reported the use of social media in their profession. Around 62.5% used social media to exchange opinions and views regarding cases with colleagues. According to 39.8% of participants, it can potentially improve the quality of care delivered to patients. Conclusion: In the present study, dental faculty used social media for many reasons, but mainly to serve public and other dental professionals and to communicate with other dental professionals on social media. Since social media in dental education is still in its infancy, research should be undertaken to determine the optimal ways for incorporating these technologies into both traditional and e-learning courses.

Keywords

• Dental Professionals
• Dentistry
• Marketing
• Social media
• Technology