The Effect Of Social Media On The Choice Of Dental Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study In The City Of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic Characteristics Of Study Sample

Variable	N(%) N=401
Age
18–25	205(51.1)
26–35	124(30.9)
36–45	41(10.2)
46+	31(7.7)
Gender
Male	218(54.4)
Female	183(45.6)
Personal social media account
Yes	382(95.3)
No	19(4.7)
Social networking sites use
Snapchat	301(75.1)
Instagram	296(73.8)
Twitter	249(62.1)
Facebook	130(32.4)
LinkedIn	45(11.2)
Other	57(14.2)

Table 2 Frequency And Percentages Of Patients’ Opinions Regarding Dental Practice And Social Media

Variable	All N(%) N=401	Male N(%) N=218	Female N(%) N=183	P value
Dental practice should have an online presence				0.023*
Strongly disagree	21(5.2)	11(5.4)	10(5.8)
Disagree	46(11.5)	28(13.7)	18(10.4)
Agree	96(23.9)	57(27.9)	39(22.5)
Strongly agree	214(53.4)	108(52.9)	106(61.3)
Social media presence is effective to engage and obtain new patients				0.002*
Strongly disagree	16(3.9)	11(5.4)	5(2.9)
Disagree	46(11.5)	28(13.7)	18(10.4)
Agree	94(23.4)	58(28.4)	36(20.8)
Strongly agree	221(55.1)	107(52.5)	114(65.9)
The return on investment of social media marketing when compared to conventional marketing for a dental practice?				0.025*
Strongly disagree	20(4.9)	9(4.4)	11(6.4)
Disagree	57(14.2)	37(18.1)	20(11.6)
Agree	106(26.4)	60(29.4)	46(26.6)
Strongly agree	194(48.4)	98(48)	96(55.5)

Note: *p value <0.05.

Figure 1 Factors that are most important to patients when choosing a dental practice.

Table 3 Frequency And Percentage Of Factors Related To Choosing A Dental Practice

Variable	All N(%) N=401	Male N(%) N=218	Female N(%) N=183	P value
Social media presence				0.031*
Not important	141(35.2)	80(39.2)	61(35.3)
Important	175(43.6)	95(46.6)	80(46.2)
Very important	61(15.2)	29(14.2)	32(18.5)
Quality of website				0.038*
Not important	77(19.2)	45(22.1)	32(18.5)
Important	169(42.1)	91(44.6)	78(45.1)
Very important	151(37.7)	68(33.3)	63(36.4)
Online reviews				0.039*
Not important	38(9.5)	24(11.8)	14(8.1)
Important	136(33.9)	73(35.8)	63(36.4)
very important	203(50.6)	107(52.5)	96(55.5)
NHS service				0.009*
Not important	16(3.9)	12(5.9)	4(2.2)
Important	97(24.2)	57(27.9)	40(23.1)
Very important	264(65.8)	135(66.2)	129(74.6)
Facilities and technologist				0.020*
Not important	17(4.2)	12(5.9)	5(2.9)
Important	83(20.7)	48(23.5)	35(20.2)
Very important	277(69.1)	144(70.6)	133(76.9)
Recommendations from friends\family				0.046*
Not important	31(7.7)	20(9.8)	11(6.4)
Important	143(35.7)	76(37.3)	67(38.7)
Very important	203(50.6)	108(52.9)	95(54.9)

Note: *p value <0.05.

Figure 2 Factors that are most important to patients when looking at a social media account for a dental practice.

Table 4 Frequency And Percentage Of Factors Related To Looking At A Social Media Account For A Dental Practice

Variable	All N(%) N=401	Male N(%) N=218	Female N(%) N=183	P value
Qualification of dentist				0.002*
Not important	30(7.5)	21(10.3)	9(5.2)
Important	121(30.2)	72(35.3)	49(28.3)
Very important	226(56.4)	111(54.4)	115(66.5)
Positivity of reviews				0.019*
Not important	29(7.2)	23(11.3)	6(3.5)
Important	122(30.5)	61(29.9)	61(35.3)
Very important	226(56.4)	120(58.8)	106(61.3)
Awards				0.010*
Not important	121(30.2)	63(30.9)	58(33.5)
Important	158(39.4)	77(37.7)	81(46.8)
Very important	98(24.4)	64(31.4)	34(19.7)
Original interesting content				0.056
Not important	81(20.2)	47(23)	34(19.7)
Important	175(43.6)	86(42.2)	87(50.3)
Very important	123(30.7)	71(34.8)	52(30.1)
Before and after image				0.001*
Not important	60(14.9)	44(21.6)	16(9.2)
Important	134(33.4)	73(35.8)	61(35.3)
Very important	183(45.6)	87(42.6)	96(55.5)
Special offers				0.060
Not important	43(10.7)	24(11.8)	19(11)
Important	133(33.1)	70(34.3)	63(36.4)
Very important	201(51.1)	110(53.9)	91(52.6)
Number of likes				0.024*
Not important	129(32.2)	64(31.4)	65(37.6)
Important	144(35.9)	80(39.2)	64(37)
Very important	104(25.9)	60(29.4)	44(25.4)

Note: *p value <0.05.