Could the Content Preferences for Dental Apps Vary Among Patients with Diverse Approaches to Oral Health Problems?

Öz

Abstract Aim: Patient empowerment strategies are important component of oral-health literacy and oral health outcomes. From this perspective, this study aimed to assess whether patients’ differing approaches to oral health problems were associated with variations in their dental app content preferences. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 284 dental patients who applied to the Faculty of Dentistry at a public university in Istanbul, Turkey, were included. Data were collected using a questionnaire covering sociodemographic profile, dental treatment needs, approaches to oral health problems, information-seeking behaviour before visiting a physician and preferred features of a dental mobile application. Results: When faced with an oral health problem, more than half of the dental patients (60.1%) reported seeing a dentist; others were waiting (14.4%) or searching social media (20.9%). “Educational videos on preventive oral care” was prioritized by patients who visited dentists (59.88%)”. Moreover, “Appointment planning tools” was identified as desirable content for the same group (54.49%)”. However, the most preferred features for a dental application among patients who searched dental health information via social media (65.52%) and those who waited before seeking care (52.5%) were “Information about oral health and treatments”. These results provided valuable insights for developing patient empowerment strategies and oral health policy. Conclusion: Although dentists should be the primary source of information for patients, dental applications could be useful tools for accessing reliable information, education materials, improving oral health and supporting the utilisation of dental care within the framework of patient empowerment strategies. Keywords: Oral health, dental application, mobile health, patient education, patient empowerment, oral health policy.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Oral health
• dental application
• mobile health
• patient education
• patient empowerment
• oral health policy

Ağız ve Diş Sağlığı Sorunlarına Farklı Yaklaşımları Olan Hastalarda Dental Uygulamalar için İçerik Tercihleri Değişebilir mi?

Öz

Özet Amaç: Hasta güçlendirme stratejileri, ağız sağlığı okuryazarlığı ve ağız sağlığı çıktıları açısından önemli bir bileşendir. Bu perspektiften hareketle; bu çalışmanın amacı, hastaların ağız sağlığı sorunlarına yönelik farklı yaklaşımlarının, diş hekimliği uygulamalarına yönelik içerik tercihlerindeki değişikliklerle ilişkili olup olmadığını değerlendirmektir. Yöntemler: Bu kesitsel çalışmaya, İstanbul’da bir devlet üniversitesinin Diş Hekimliği Fakültesi'ne başvuran 284 hastası dahil edilmiştir. Veriler, sosyodemografik profil, tedavi ihtiyaçları, ağız sağlığı sorunlarına yaklaşım, bir hekime gitmeden önce bilgi arama davranışı ve bir diş hekimliği mobil uygulaması için istenen içerikleri kapsayan bir anket formu kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Bulgular: Bir ağız sağlığı sorunuyla karşılaştıklarında, hastaların yarısından fazlası (%60,1) diş hekimine gittiklerini; diğerleri ise beklediklerini (%14,4) veya sosyal medyada arama yaptıklarını (%20,9) bildirmiştir. Diş hekimine başvuran hastalar tarafından "Koruyucu uygulamalara yönelik eğitici videolar " (%59,88) önceliklendirilen içerik olmuştur. Ayrıca; bu grup için “Randevu planlama araçlarını” (%54,49) arzu edilen içerik olduğu da görülmüştür. Bununla birlikte, sosyal medya aracılıyla ağız ve diş sağlığı bilgisi arayan hastalar (%65,52) ve tedavi arayışı öncesi bekleyen hastalar (%52,5) için en çok tercih edilen içerikler “Ağız ve diş sağlığı ve tedaviler hakkında bilgi” olmuştur. Bu bulgular, hasta güçlendirme stratejilerinin ve ağız sağlığı politikalarının geliştirilmesine yönelik değerli bilgiler sağlamaktadır. Sonuç: Diş hekimleri, hastalar için birincil bilgi kaynağı olmasına rağmen; dental aplikasyonlar, güvenilir bilgiye erişim, eğitim materyali, oral sağlığı geliştirmesi ve hasta güçlendirme stratejileri çerçevesinde diş hekimliği hizmeti kullanımını destekleme açısından yararlı araçlar olabileceği düşünülmektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Oral sağlığı, dental aplikasyon, mobil sağlık, hasta eğitimi, hasta güçlendirme, ağız sağlığı politikası.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Oral sağlığı
• dental aplikasyon
• mobil sağlık
• hasta eğitimi
• hasta güçlendirme
• ağız sağlığı politikası

Kaynakça

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