The Use of Social Media Devices in Choosing Dentists

Dilaver Tengilimoglu; Aykut Ekiyor; Alper Guzel; Ezgican Tekin

doi:10.37591/rrjod.v12i1.2486

Abstract

Developments in technology enable widespread use of the internet all over the world. Social media- on which individuals and institutions can share their knowledge, thoughts and experiences along with the spread of the internet- has today become an effective social network. Consumers can reach the information they need regardless of time and location by using social media platforms, and thus, they can share their positive and negative experiences. Dentists use the social media in the area of health services as in other areas so as to inform consumers of the services they offer and to interact with them. This study was conducted in order to analyse consumers’ views on the use of social media in choosing dentists or dental clinics and to find whether or not there are any differences between them according to their demographic features. The research was done with the inclusion of 458 participants who lived in Ankara. Survey was used as the tool of data collection. The participants were chosen in convenience sampling method. The data collected were analysed by using a statistical package programme. In conclusion, it was found that 95.4% of the participants used a social media device. The results obtained from the survey indicated that 31.4% of the participants used social media devices in choosing dentists and dental clinics. The results of the analyses showed that there were no significant differences between consumers’ choice of dentists and their use of social media according to their age (p>0.005). On the other hand, significant differences were found between their choice of dentists and use of social media on the basis of gender (p<0.005).

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