The use of information and communication technologies in Latin American dentists: a cross-sectional study from Ecuador

Special care dentistry education during the COVID-19 pandemic: The impact of online peer-assisted learning

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to analyze the impact and students' perceptions of online peer-assisted learning (OPL), developed as an alternative and innovative approach to Special Care Dentistry (SCD) training during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online peer-assisted learning (OPL) is an alternative pedagogical approach that combines online education and peer-assisted teaching.

METHODS

The OPL session was conducted by two postgraduate students in SCD (as teachers), to final year undergraduate dental students (as learners) (n = 90), supervised by two specialists in SCD-related areas (as supervisors). Vetted online pre- and post-intervention quizzes were conducted before and after the session, respectively, followed by an online validated feedback survey of the students' learning experiences. Meanwhile, a reflective session was conducted between the postgraduate students and supervisors to explore their perceptions of OPL. Quantitative data was analyzed via paired t-test (significance level, P < .05). Qualitative data was analyzed via thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 68 (response rate = 75.6%) and 81 (response rate = 90.0%) undergraduate students completed the quiz and feedback survey, respectively. There was a significant difference in total mean scores, and mean scores of 7 (out of 10) individual items on the quizzes. Most students offered positive reviews of multiple aspects of OPL. They acknowledged the benefit of OPL for its content and preparation process, technology utilized, and experts' roles. Postgraduate students perceived that OPL encourages knowledge-recall and utilization of technology-based educational tools, while improving their teaching skills.

CONCLUSION

Students provided positive responses toward the implementation of OPL as an innovative approach to the teaching and learning of SCD during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Factors associated with the professional use of social media by speech-language therapists and audiologists working in Brazil: a web-based survey

ABSTRACT Purpose: to verify personal and work factors, and specialties of Brazilian speech-language therapists and audiologists who use social media profiles, professionally. Methods: an online questionnaire was used to carry out a population survey with working speech-language therapists and audiologists in Brazil, in 2020. The outcome of “How would you describe your use of social media?” was recategorized into “personal use” and “professional use”. Absolute and relative frequencies were calculated. Multivariate prevalence ratios were adjusted using the Poisson regression model with robust variance and 95% confidence intervals. Results: out of the 442 respondents, 93.7% were females, with a mean age of 38.0 years (± 11.1). The primary outcome, “professional use of social media”, occurred for 64.7% of the participants. In the multivariate analysis, private employment, participants in the 31-45 age range, and >26 years of work history after graduation were significantly associated with the professional use of social media. Conclusion: social media are used by approximately two-thirds of Brazilian speech-language therapists and audiologists. This finding suggests a need for reflection and discussion about the proper use of social media for work purposes.

Fatores associados ao uso profissional de mídias sociais por fonoaudiólogos que atuam no Brasil: inquérito populacional via web

RESUMO Objetivo: verificar os fatores individuais, laborais e a região de atuação dos fonoaudiólogos atuantes no Brasil, com perfil em redes sociais e que as utilizam profissionalmente. Métodos: inquérito populacional via Web, realizado com fonoaudiólogos atuantes no Brasil no ano de 2020, por meio de um questionário on-line. O desfecho “Como você descreveria seu uso das mídias sociais?” foi recategorizado em “uso pessoal” e “uso profissional”. As frequências absolutas e relativas e análises multivariáveis ajustadas por Regressão de Poisson com variância robusta com seus respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95% são apresentados. Resultados: dos 442 entrevistados, 93,7% eram do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 38,0 anos (± 11,1). O desfecho “usar mídias sociais profissionalmente” foi encontrado em 64,7% dos entrevistados. Na análise multivariável, a relação de trabalho privada, idade entre 31 e 45 anos e mais de 26 anos de formação na graduação foram aspectos associados significantemente com o uso profissional das mídias sociais. Conclusão: aproximadamente dois terços dos fonoaudiólogos brasileiros com perfis em mídias sociais as utilizam profissionalmente, isso sugere a necessidade de reflexão e discussão sobre os caminhos desejáveis e aceitos em relação a adequada utilização destes meios para o trabalho.

The use of social media for professional purposes among dentists in Saudi Arabia

Aim

To investigate the dentists’ opinions towards social media (SM) use in daily practice and the expected limitations from its use in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

An electronic survey was carried out throughout May–June 2020 among a sample of dentists in Saudi Arabia. The survey covered three parts: the first part covered professional and demographic information, the second part covered the use of mobile phones and SM in dental practice, while the third part assessed dentists’ opinion on SM use. Descriptive statistics included frequency distributions and percentages and independent t test/ANOVA test for the relationship between the mean of dentists’ opinion towards SM and demographic variables. A p value of 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant.

Results

The majority of respondents (80%) believe that SM plays an active role in patients’ decisions regarding the selection of a healthcare provider. The mean dentists’ opinion scores on the use of SM were significantly lower among participants working more than 50 h per week compared with other participants (p = 0.014).

Conclusion

The majority of sampled dentists believe that SM plays an active role in patients’ decisions regarding the healthcare provider’s selection. Directed campaigns can help dentists optimize the use of SM for both professional and personal purposes.