Figure 1: Most type of advertisement attracting/visiting patients to clinic according to DP (n=415) and Patient (n=865)

Figure 2: Meaning of social media

Figure 3: Use of social media

Figure 4: Usefulness of social media as marketing tools

Socio-demographic factors

n

%

 

Age

25 – 34 Years

167

40.2

35 – 44 years

121

29.2

45 – 54

75

18.1

≥55 Years

34

8.2

Less than 18 Years

18

4.3

Total

415

100.0

 

Gender

Male

187

45.1

Female

228

54.9

Total

415

100.0

 

Dental practitioner

General dentist –(practicing less than 5 years)

112

27.0

General dentist –(practicing more than 5 years)

80

19.3

Specialist

46

11.1

Consultant

84

20.2

Others

93

22.4

Total

415

100.0

 

Main practice area

Government

241

58.1

Private

174

41.9

Total

415

100.0

 

Region

Eastern region

61

14.7

Western region

80

19.3

Central region

232

55.9

Northern region

17

4.1

Southern region

25

6.0

Total

415

100.0

 

Monthly income

4000 SAR

53

12.8

5000-10000 SAR

66

15.9

11000-20000 SAR

116

28.0

>20000 SAR

180

43.4

Total

415

100.0

Table 1: Socio-demographic factors of dental practitioners considered in the study

Socio-demographic factors

n

%

 

Age

Less than 18 years

141

16.3

18-25 years

435

50.3

26 – 35 years

176

20.3

36 – 44 years

72

8.4

45 Years and above

41

4.7

Total

865

100.0

 

Gender

Male

161

18.6

Female

704

81.4

Total

865

100.0

 

Education

Primary school

5

0.6

Intermediate school

57

6.6

Secondary school

296

34.2

University

507

58.6

Total

865

100.0

Government

139

16.1

 

Main work area

Private

154

17.8

I don’t work

572

66.1

Total

865

100.0

 

Region

Eastern region

681

78.7

Western region

115

13.3

Central region

34

3.9

Northern region

15

1.7

Southern region

20

2.4

Total

865

100.0

 

Monthly income

4000 SAR

564

65.3

5000-10000 SAR

174

20.1

11000-20000 SAR

86

9.9

>20000 SAR

41

4.7

Total

865

100.0

Table 2: Socio-demographic factors of dental practitioners considered in the study

 

Instagram

Twitter

snap chat

Facebook

Website (Blogger)

Others

 

Sig

%

%

%

%

%

%

 

Age

25 – 34 Years

46.0

49.0

44.4

26.3

55.6

39.1

 

NS

35-44 years

36.8

23.5

34.9

26.3

0.0

29.7

45 – 54

14.9

16.3

12.7

36.8

11.1

25.0

≥55

2.3

11.2

7.9

10.5

33.3

6.3

Gender

Male

40.2

49.0

46.0

63.2

55.6

46.9

NS

Female

59.8

51.0

54.0

36.8

44.4

53.1

 

Specialty

General dentist -practicing less than 5 Year

29.9

35.7

36.5

10.5

33.3

21.9

 

NS

General dentist -practicing more than 5 Year

26.4

16.3

17.5

15.8

11.1

18.8

Specialist

8.0

7.1

11.1

21.1

0.0

9.4

Consultant

21.8

15.3

22.2

21.1

0.0

20.3

Others

13.8

25.5

12.7

31.6

55.6

29.7

Practice

Government

44.8

55.1

47.6

52.6

77.8

73.4

S

Private

55.2

44.9

52.4

47.4

22.2

26.6

 

Region

Eastern region

16.1

13.3

22.2

10.5

11.1

10.9

 

NS

Western region

31.0

11.2

14.3

21.1

22.2

25.0

Central region

47.1

62.2

54.0

57.9

55.6

51.6

Northern region

2.3

6.1

4.8

5.3

11.1

1.6

Southern region

3.4

7.1

4.8

5.3

0.0

10.9

 

Monthly income

4 Thousands or below

21.8

10.2

9.5

10.5

22.2

10.9

 

NS

5 to 10 Thousand

20.7

17.3

27.0

21.1

22.2

4.7

11 to 20 Thousand

21.8

26.5

27.0

31.6

0.0

32.8

More than 20 Thousand

35.6

45.9

36.5

36.8

55.6

51.6

Table 3: Relation between socio demographic variables and the use of social media among dental practitioners

Variables

Instagram

Twitter

snap chat

Facebook

Sig

%

%

%

%

 

Age

Less than 18 years

18.3

12.9

10.5

12.4

 

NS

18-25 years

50.5

52.7

21.1

43.0

26 – 35 years

22.1

18.3

26.3

24.7

36 – 44 years

7.9

9.7

31.6

10.2

45 and above

1.3

6.5

10.5

9.7

Gender

Male

13.7

26.9

47.4

18.3

S

Female

86.3

73.1

52.6

81.7

 

Education

Primary school

0.8

0.0

5.3

0.5

 

NS

Intermediate school

8.4

4.3

5.3

6.5

Secondary school

39.6

23.7

31.6

31.7

University

51.3

72.0

57.9

61.3

 

Main work area

Government

15.7

22.6

15.8

17.7

 

NS

Private

19.3

16.1

31.6

20.4

I don’t work

65.0

61.3

52.6

61.8

 

Region

Eastern region

86.0

44.1

52.6

81.2

 

NS

Western region

7.9

38.7

15.8

10.2

Central region

2.3

10.8

21.1

5.9

Northern region

2.3

1.1

0.0

0.5

Southern region

1.5

5.4

10.5

2.2

 

Monthly income

4000 SAR

66.5

61.3

63.2

60.2

 

NS

5000-10000 SAR

20.8

16.1

21.1

23.7

11000-20000 SAR

9.6

16.1

5.3

10.2

>20000 SAR

3.0

6.5

10.5

5.9

Table 4: Relation between socio demographic variables and the use of social media among patients

 

Improves my communication

Helped me able to be more educated

Social media didn’t help me to improve any skills

DP

n

114

228

73

%

27.5

54.9

17.6

Patients

n

98

577

190

%

11.3

66.7

22

Table 5: Social media improve skill

 

N

%

 

DP
Do you have the ability to answer the questions that you receive from your followers?

Yes always, I answer them

152

36.6

Sometimes

156

37.6

No, never as I don't have enough time

107

25.8

Total

415

100.0

 

Patients
Have you ever tried to consult a dentist throw- out social media?

Yes always, I answer them

87

10.1

Sometimes

110

12.7

No, never as I don't have enough time

39

4.5

I did not consult a dentist through social media

629

72.7

Total

865

100.0

Table 6: Queries of followers and consultation to the dentist

Sharing/Reviewing

Time

n

%

 

Time to share posts on social media by DP

Less than 2 hours per day

315

75.9

3-4 hours per day

68

16.4

5 or more hours per day

32

7.7

Total

415

100.0

 

Time spent on social media reviewing dentist’s posts by Patients

Less than 2 hours per day

703

81.3

3-4 hours per day

68

7.9

5 or more hours per day

94

10.9

Total

865

100.0

Table 8: Time spent on sharing and reviewing posts

 

Responses

Percent of Cases

N

Percent

 

DP: Attract new patients

Good reputation

304

34.9%

74.3%

Making offers

199

22.8%

48.7%

convenient location

146

16.8%

35.7%

Sharing attractive clinical cases and posters through social media.

 

222

 

25.5%

 

54.3%

Total

871

100.0%

213.0%

 

Patients visit the new dental practice

Good reputation

664

42.3%

77.7%

Making offers

221

14.1%

25.8%

convenient location

198

12.6%

23.2%

Sharing attractive clinical cases and posters through social media.

 

488

 

31.1%

 

57.1%

Total

1571

100.0%

183.7%

Table 9: Ways to attract new patients/visit a new dental practice

 

DP

Patients

n

%

n

%

 

Ask/accept permission before sharing the photo on social media

Strongly agree

315

75.9

64

7.4

Agree

60

14.5

210

24.3

Neutral

32

7.7

204

23.6

Disagree

5

1.2

275

31.8

Strongly disagree

3

0.7

112

12.9

Total

415

100.0

865

100.0

 

Use of electronic website for dental patient booking an appointment

Strongly agree

182

43.9

418

48.3

Agree

138

33.3

301

34.8

Neutral

63

15.2

86

9.9

Disagree

22

5.3

50

5.8

Strongly disagree

10

2.4

10

1.2

Total

415

100.0

865

100.0

 

Can you stop using social media

Strongly agree

25

6.0

87

10.1

Agree

54

13.0

222

25.7

Neutral

129

31.1

355

41.0

Disagree

123

29.6

174

20.1

Strongly disagree

84

20.2

27

3.1

Total

415

100.0

865

100.0

Table 10: Questionnaire items regarding sharing photographs, use of an electronic website and social media J