Professional use of social media platforms by independent dental hygienists in the Netherlands: A quantitative study

Aim: This study examines the prevalence of the professional use of social media platforms by independent DHs in the Netherlands and assesses the associated personal and demographic factors. Methods: In this exploratory, observational, cross-sectional study, independent DHs who were members of the Dutch Dental Hygienist Association (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Mondhygiënisten: NVM) were included. Data were collected from the DH practices' websites. Statistics included frequency distributions, percentages, chi-square tests for the relationship between the parameters, and multiple logistic regression for the associations between social media use and the personal and demographic factors. Results: A total of 830 independent DHs from 670 different practices were included in the study. Of these DHs, 34.4% had a link to a social media platform on their website. DHs with practices in the west or south of the Netherlands were more likely to use Facebook (p = 0.035 and p = 0.002, respectively) than those in the east or north. The likelihood of DHs with 4 years of training using Facebook was 1.910 greater than those with 2 years of training (p = 0.002). Furthermore, DHs who graduated in Utrecht were more likely to use Instagram (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Over a third of the independent DHs in the Netherlands used social media for professional purposes. DHs who trained in Utrecht for 4 years and who had a practice in the west or south of the Netherlands were more likely to use social media for professional purposes.