Professional use of social media platforms by independent dental hygienists in the Netherlands: A quantitative study.

AIM

This study examines the prevalence of the professional use of social media platforms by independent DHs in the Netherlands and assesses the associated personal and demographic factors.

METHODS

In this exploratory, observational, cross-sectional study, independent DHs who were members of the Dutch Dental Hygienist Association (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Mondhygiënisten: NVM) were included. Data were collected from the DH practices' websites. Statistics included frequency distributions, percentages, chi-square tests for the relationship between the parameters, and multiple logistic regression for the associations between social media use and the personal and demographic factors.

RESULTS

A total of 830 independent DHs from 670 different practices were included in the study. Of these DHs, 34.4% had a link to a social media platform on their website. DHs with practices in the west or south of the Netherlands were more likely to use Facebook (p = 0.035 and p = 0.002, respectively) than those in the east or north. The likelihood of DHs with 4 years of training using Facebook was 1.910 greater than those with 2 years of training (p = 0.002). Furthermore, DHs who graduated in Utrecht were more likely to use Instagram (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Over a third of the independent DHs in the Netherlands used social media for professional purposes. DHs who trained in Utrecht for 4 years and who had a practice in the west or south of the Netherlands were more likely to use social media for professional purposes.