Factor analysis of risk perceptions of using digital and social media in dental education and profession

TY - JOUR

T1 - Factor analysis of risk perceptions of using digital and social media in dental education and profession

AU - Sharka, Rayan

AU - San Diego, Jonathan

AU - Nasseripour, Melanie

AU - Banerjee, Avijit

N1 - Funding Information: The authors wish to thank all participants involved in the study for their effort and time. This study was funded by the Umm al Qura University (number: 4370088310), as a part of the first author's research studies at King's College London. The funder had no role in study design, data collection, and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Dental Education published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Dental Education Association.

PY - 2022/8/29

Y1 - 2022/8/29

N2 - Purpose: This study explored how dental students and dental professionals perceive risks of using digital and social media (DSM) in a dental professional context and validated a questionnaire to measure DSM perceived risks specifically among dental students and dental professionals. Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was carried out amongst dental students (undergraduate and postgraduate) and dental professionals at a dental school in the UK. Data were collected using a 38-item questionnaire developed using interviews, experts’ evaluation, and previous perceived risks studies of internet services and social media. Risk factors were identified using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The internal consistency of the extracted factors was determined by Cronbach's α-coefficient reliability test. Results: A total of 301 dental students and dental professionals completed the questionnaire. EFA identified eight factors perceived by dental students and professionals as critical to their DSM use. Some identified perceived risks were associated with all DSM users in the general context (e.g., personal privacy, and negative impact on self-image), but others were specific to the dental professional context (e.g., breaches of patients’ confidentiality, public deception, and reputational damage). The identified factors explained 63.55% of the variance with eigenvalues >1. Cronbach's alpha for the total questionnaire was 0.9. Conclusions: This study data has deepened the understanding of perceived risks that influence dental students and professionals’ DSM use. This will help develop education, training, and guidance to mitigate and manage the risks associated with DSM use in the dental professional context.

AB - Purpose: This study explored how dental students and dental professionals perceive risks of using digital and social media (DSM) in a dental professional context and validated a questionnaire to measure DSM perceived risks specifically among dental students and dental professionals. Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was carried out amongst dental students (undergraduate and postgraduate) and dental professionals at a dental school in the UK. Data were collected using a 38-item questionnaire developed using interviews, experts’ evaluation, and previous perceived risks studies of internet services and social media. Risk factors were identified using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The internal consistency of the extracted factors was determined by Cronbach's α-coefficient reliability test. Results: A total of 301 dental students and dental professionals completed the questionnaire. EFA identified eight factors perceived by dental students and professionals as critical to their DSM use. Some identified perceived risks were associated with all DSM users in the general context (e.g., personal privacy, and negative impact on self-image), but others were specific to the dental professional context (e.g., breaches of patients’ confidentiality, public deception, and reputational damage). The identified factors explained 63.55% of the variance with eigenvalues >1. Cronbach's alpha for the total questionnaire was 0.9. Conclusions: This study data has deepened the understanding of perceived risks that influence dental students and professionals’ DSM use. This will help develop education, training, and guidance to mitigate and manage the risks associated with DSM use in the dental professional context.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85136880337&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/jdd.13085

DO - 10.1002/jdd.13085

M3 - Article

SN - 0022-0337

JO - Journal of Dental Education

JF - Journal of Dental Education

ER -