Anxiety Among Dental Professionals and Its Association with Their Dependency on Social Media for Health Information: Insights from the COVID-19 Pandemic (BMC Psychology)

​Summary: Social media can play a detrimental role during a global health emergency. In this study, authors aimed at assessing the impact social media has on the anxiety level of dental health care workers (DHCWs) while living through the COVID-19 pandemic.

An online questionnaire was disseminated to a cross-sectional sample of DHCWs from 19 countries using social media platforms. The questionnaire enquired about DHCWs’ frequency of using social media and their dependency on health-related information posted on those platforms. Anxiety was measured using General Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7).

Findings: Four hundred and three (403) DHCWs completed the online questionnaire. Sixty-eight percent (68%) frequently use social media for information on COVID-19. The frequency of social media use was higher among younger DHCWs, with shorter clinical experience, and holders of undergraduate qualifications. Almost one third of DHCWs had moderate to severe anxiety, which was significantly associated with the frequency of social media use. This association was adjusted for age, years of experience and qualification level.

COVID-19 social media infodemic has been adversely impacting the psychological wellbeing of DHCWs. More effective measures are needed to control the quality and spreadability of health information on social media platforms.

Authors refer to a study using 2015–2016 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data. 

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• Journal Article: Anxiety Among Dental Professionals and Its Association with Their Dependency on Social Media for Health Information: Insights from the COVID-19 Pandemic