Use of online sources of information for dental prac-tice among private dental practitioners in Bangalore – a cross sectional survey

  • Authors

    • Mayur Nath Reddy professor
    • Hemalatha K post graduate
    2017-05-16
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijdr.v5i1.7431
  • Practical Guidance, Dental Practitioners, Internet Usage
  • Introduction: The Internet seems to provide a new opportunity to overcome problems of access and provide clinically appropriate information to practitioners. However, while use of the Internet for clinical information has grown substantially in recent years. Access to the Internet has been improving rapidly for all professional groups. Dental professionals in clinical practice have been increasing opportunities to obtain information for clinical decision-making from a variety of resources, including a growing availability through online technology.

    Objectives:

    1)      To assess the frequency of utilizing online sources of information for practical guidance.

    2)      To assess the influence of online sources of information on practical guidance.

    Materials and Methods: A Cross-sectional survey was carried out among 386 private dental practitioners in Bangalore city. A self-administered, structured questionnaire containing 16 items was used (including demographic details). Cronbach's α was found to be 0.87 for each item. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square test.

    Results: 81.6% (n=315) of private dental practitioners use the Internet as their source of information for clinical practice. Only 18.4% (n=71) do not use, the main reason for not using internet is lack of time and it is too complicated to use. 44.8% (n=173) rated on online source as most influential and 45.6% (n=176) frequently using online source for guidance. Information was primarily sought on patient education, oral disease, updates on common disease, and diagnosis. Medline was the most frequently accessed source.

    Conclusion: A relatively large proportion of dental practitioners uses information from online sources for practical guidance. The Internet could be a valuable medium for the information, provided, that its use is accompanied by training in the identiï¬cation, use, and application. 

  • References

    1. [1] Romano Mariateresa et al. Use of the internet by Italian pediatricians: habits, impact on clinical practice and expectations. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 2012; 12:23: P-1-7.

      [2] R. Ni Riordain and C. McCreary. Dental patients’ use of the Internet. British Dental Journal 2009; volume 207 (12) Dec 19: P-583-586.

      [3] J. Rowena Cullen. In search of evidence: family practitioners’ use of the Internet for clinical information. J Med Libr Assoc October 2002; 90(4): P- 370-379.

      [4] L. Sharon Gravois. Information seeking practices of dental hygienists. Bull Med Libr October 1995; volume 83(4): P-446- 452.

      [5] Mei Song et al. How information systems should support the information needs of general dentists in clinical settings: suggestions from a qualitative study. Medical Informatics and Decision Making 2010; P-1-9.

      [6] Ellen Funkhouser et al. Use of Online Sources of Information by Dental Practitioners: Findings from the Dental Practice-Based Research Network. J Public Health Dent 2014; January 74(1): P- 71–79.

      [7] L Kendra et al. Family Medicine Patients’ Use of the Internet for Health Information: A MetroNet Study. JABFM January–February 2006; Vol. 19(1): P- 39-45.

      [8] A. H Anita et al . Verhoeven. Use of information sources by family physicians: a literature survey. Bull Med Libr Assoc 1995; 83(1) : P- 85- 90.

      [9] Elizabeth Ashin Strother et al. Information Needs of Practicing Dentists. Bull. Med. Libr July 1986; 74(3): P- 227-230.

      [10] N. Reem et al. Utilization of Evidence-Based Informational Resources for Clinical Decisions Related to Posterior Composite Restorations. Journal of Dental Education November 2005; Volume 69 (11): P- 1251- 1256.

      [11] J. Michael Schoen et al. Characteristics That Predict Physician Participation in a WebBased CME Activity: The MI-Plus Study. J Contin Educ Health Prof 2011; 29(4): P- 246–253.

      [12] Greg Ryan et al. Online CME: An effective alternative to face-to-face delivery. 03 Jul 2009;P- e251-257.

      [13] Louis Leung. Internet Embeddedness: Links with Online Health Information Seeking, Expectancy Value/Quality of Health Information Websites, and Internet Usage Patterns. Cyberpsychology & Behavior 2008; Volume 11 (5): P- 565-569.

      [14] Nigel Pitts. Understanding the jigsaw of evidence-based dentistry: 1. Introduction, research and synthesis. Evidence-Based Dentistry 2004; 5: P- 2–4.

      [15] Koller Michael et al. Use of the Internet by medical doctors in Switzerland. Swiss Med Wkly 2001;131:P-251–254.

      [16] Nigel Pitts. Understanding the jigsaw of evidence-based dentistry. 3. Implementation of research findings in clinical practice. . Evidence-Based Dentistry 2004; 5: P- 60-64.

      [17] Yuk Yee Yan. Online Health Information Seeking Behavior in Hong Kong: An Exploratory Study. J Med Syst 2010; 34: P-147–153.

      [18] Firat Selvi et al. Information-Seeking Patterns of Dentists in Istanbul, Turkey. International Section on Dental Education August 2002 ; Volume 66(8): P-977-980.

      [19] E.James Andrews et al. Information-seeking behaviors of practitioners in a primary care practice-based research network (PBRN). J Med Libr Assoc April 2005; 93(2): P- 206-212.

      [20] A. Grace Ajuwon et al. Use of the Internet for health information by physicians for patient

      [21] Care in a teaching hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria.Biomedical Digital Libraries 2006, P-1-9.

      [22] J. H. John et al. Questionnaire survey on the use of computerisation in dental practices across the Thames Valley region. British Dental Journal 2003; volume 195 (10): P- 585- 590.

      [23] Nigel Pitts. Understanding the jigsaw of evidence-based dentistry. 2. Dissemination of research results. Evidence-Based Dentistry 2004; 5: P- 33-35.

      [24] Rowena Cullen et al. The impact of information literacy training on clinicians entering the workforce. P-1-22.

      [25] Louis Leung . Internet embeddedness: Links with Online Health information seeking, expectancy value/Quality of health information websites, and internet usage patterns. Cyberpsychology and behavior 2008;11(5): p-565-569.

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Reddy, M. N., & K, H. (2017). Use of online sources of information for dental prac-tice among private dental practitioners in Bangalore – a cross sectional survey. International Journal of Dental Research, 5(1), 75-82. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijdr.v5i1.7431