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ABSTRACT
Objectives: Research shows that approximately 75% of people worldwide access the internet for health information. Lower calibre websites often use inaccurate claims to attract internet browsers. The objective of this review is to alert oral health care professionals (OHCPs) to the impact of oral health media hype on client perceptions of oral care. It also aims to provide OHCPs with tools to educate clients on how to identify credible oral health information online so that they can make informed oral health treatment decisions. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar. The returns were screened using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria, of which 12 (92%) identified that clients browse the internet to research oral health conditions and treatments. Eleven studies (85%) concluded that media outlets influence client perceptions of oral health care and treatment. All 13 studies (100%) found that OHCPs and organizations should better guide clients with tools to discern between evidence-based (EB) and non-evidence-based (NEB) online health information. Discussion: According to the literature, viewing NEB oral health information on the internet affects clients' perceptions of oral health care, which may lead to potentially harmful treatment decisions. Chairside education is effective in reducing the impact of oral health misinformation. Conclusion: OHCPs have the responsibility to address the impact of media hype on clients' perception of oral health care and to direct them to credible health information.
RÉSUMÉ
Objectifs : Les recherches montrent qu'environ 75 % des personnes dans le monde entier accedent a l'Internet pour obtenir de l'information sur la santé. Les sites Web de moindre qualité utilisent souvent des declarations inexactes pour attirer les internautes. L'objectif du present examen est d'avertir les professionnels de la santé buccodentaire (PSB) sur l'effet du battage médiatique sur la perception des clients en matiere de soins buccodentaires. L'examen vise aussi a fournir les outils nécessaires aux PSB pour enseigner aux clients comment trouver les informations crédibles sur la santé buccodentaire en ligne pour qu'ils puissent prendre des décisions éclairées en matiere de traitements de santé buccodentaire. Méthodologie : Une recherche documentaire a été menée dans PubMed et Google Scholar. Les résultats ont été examinés a l'aide de criteres d'inclusion et d'exclusion. Résultats : Treize études ont...