Orthodontic patients and the information found on the web: a cross-sectional study

Roberta Crispino; Alice Mannocci; Irene Alfonsa Dilena; Jackson Sides; Federico Forchini; Wael Mohammad Asif Alherawi; Sylvia A Frazier-Bowers; Cristina Grippaudo

doi:10.1186/s12903-023-03609-4

Orthodontic patients and the information found on the web: a cross-sectional study

BMC Oral Health. 2023 Nov 13;23(1):860. doi: 10.1186/s12903-023-03609-4.

Authors

Roberta Crispino¹, Alice Mannocci², Irene Alfonsa Dilena³, Jackson Sides⁴, Federico Forchini⁵, Wael Mohammad Asif Alherawi⁶, Sylvia A Frazier-Bowers⁷, Cristina Grippaudo⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan "La Statale", Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Milano, Italy. roberta.crispino@unimi.it.
² Faculty of Economics, Universitas Mercatorum, Rome, Italy.
³ Department of Orthodontics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
⁴ University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
⁵ Finnish National Dental Care, Oulu, Finland.
⁶ Private practice, Madinah, KSA, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Orthodontics and Oral Facial Genetics Associate Dean, Student Affairs and Admissions Chief Diversity Officer, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, USA.
⁸ Dental Institute, DDS, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Milano, Italy.

Abstract

Background: In recent years, the Web has become a source of medical information for patients, even though the information available online may be incorrect or qualitatively inadequate. Younger generations, immersed in a digital environment since a very tender age, are more likely to get informed online. This study aims to understand the relevance of online information for prospective orthodontic patients and to investigate the effects of digital research on patients' decision-making process, and it also aims to investigate potential generational differences between digital natives and digital immigrants.

Materials and methods: An anonymous questionnaire was developed to investigate patients' orthodontic-themed Web searches as well as the effects digital material had on their decision-making process. Before submitting the newly designed survey to patients, it was validated in a pilot study. Univariate analysis was applied to analyze the relationship between the demographic characteristics of respondents and their answers on the use of digital research for the decision-making process.

Results: 64.6% of the study population searched the Web for orthodontic information prior to their visit. Google was the most used platform regardless of patients' age. The perceived reliability of online sources varied significantly with age. Men displayed more trusting behavior towards their doctor than women. Prospective patients' satisfaction with affected patients' decision-making processes, and the perceived reliability of online sources of information had repercussions on the doctor-patient relationship.

Conclusions: Orthodontists should be aware that the majority of patients use the Internet as a source for orthodontic information, and that patients who are digital immigrants are more prone to trust the information found online. Patients who perceive the information found on the Web as either useful or reliable don't easily discard it, even if it is inconsistent with the orthodontist's opinion.

Keywords: Decision-making; Digital information; Digital natives; Generational differences; Orthodontics; Survey; e-health.

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Internet*
Male
Physician-Patient Relations*
Pilot Projects
Prospective Studies
Reproducibility of Results
Surveys and Questionnaires