Social media platforms can play crucial role in promoting oral health, research suggests

Online platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Telegram can be effectively utilized to promote oral health among patients, the researchers suggested.

They note that although social media offers efficiency and convenience for interventions aimed at preventing and promoting oral health, its utilization is not yet widespread.

While social media can improve content accessibility and enhance knowledge transfer, the success of interventions depends on individual participation and evidence-based approaches, the study stated.

However, it is important to note that there is no single method or platform that can be deemed universally suitable for all regions. Nevertheless, audio-visual platforms may be more effective than text-based social media in promoting oral health.

Social media, described as "a group of internet-based applications that are built on Web 2.0," has gained significant popularity in recent decades, allowing users to create, share, and participate in social networks. The most commonly used social networking platforms include YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and WeChat. These platforms have become a common means of sharing personal experiences, information, and lifestyles. They can also be used as cost-effective methods for individuals to acquire health information and promote oral health.

Against the above background, Zahra Ghorbani, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, and colleagues aimed to systematically review the current literature on the interventions taken through social media for promoting lay people’s oral health. The systematic review followed the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) 2020 guidelines.

For this purpose, the researchers conducted a comprehensive search in four electronic databases for relevant articles published between 2012 and 2023. Data such as sample size, study design, utilized social media platforms, follow-up duration and main findings were extracted from the eligible studies.

The quality of the included studies was evaluated by the quality assessment tools for intervention studies recommended by the National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools.

Key findings were as follows:

• Out of the 1934 records identified in the initial search, the qualitative synthesis included ten studies which met the inclusion criteria. These studies consisted of seven randomized control trials, one field trial and two quasi-experimental.
• Various social media platforms, including Instagram, Telegram, YouTube, WhatsApp and Snapchat, were used for communication with patients.
• Some studies solely utilized social media interventions, while others combined online and traditional interventions.
• The quality assessment categorized 30% of the studies as “strong”, 50% as “moderate”, and the remaining as “weak”.
• The implementation of social media interventions positively influenced multiple aspects of oral health among laypeople.

"Collaborations between oral health professionals, organizations, and influencers on social media will amplify credibility and reach," the researchers wrote.

"However, these advancements come with ethical considerations, demanding vigilance in combatting misinformation and adhering to privacy regulations."

"Considering these changes, researchers and practitioners must recognize and address research gaps," the research team concluded. "Future studies should explore unexplored areas to better understand the intersection between social media and oral health promotion."

Reference:

Farrokhi, F., Ghorbani, Z., Farrokhi, F., Namdari, M., & Salavatian, S. (2023). Social media as a tool for oral health promotion: A systematic review. PLOS ONE, 18(12), e0296102. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0296102