Is the Internet useful for clinical practice?

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Health Informatics
• Digital Health

Background:

• Internet adoption in dental practice is growing.
• Dentists' utilization and perceived value of the internet for patient care were explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess how dentists use the internet to support patient care.
• To evaluate dentists' perceptions of the internet's usefulness in their practice.

Main Methods:

• A 25-question survey was distributed to 455 subscribers of the Internet Dental Forum.
• Surveys were completed online or via email over 18 days in December 1998.
• Data collected included internet usage patterns, motivations, experiences, and demographics.

Main Results:

• A 72% response rate (314 surveys) was achieved from 438 participants.
• Most dentists considered the internet essential, increasing its professional use over time.
• Primary uses included staying updated, answering patient questions, and patient education; reduced professional isolation was a key benefit.

Conclusions:

• The internet supports clinical dental practice, aiding in the adoption of new techniques and product information.
• Internet use primarily aids dentists indirectly by facilitating general knowledge updates rather than direct clinical query resolution.