How access to online health information affects the dental hygiene client experience

Due to the widespread availability of online information, oral care providers are no longer the main source of oral health information for clients. This shift in the balance of knowledge has the potential to alter clients' experiences and relationships with their oral care providers, including dental hygienists. This review explores how access to online health information has influenced clients' experiences with their dental hygienists.

A narrative literature review of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed,method studies concerning clients' experiences with online health information and how it has influenced the client-health care professional relationship was completed. The electronic databases searched were Google Scholar^TM, PubMed, and CINAHL. Twenty-three studies published between 2005 and 2020 were included.

The majority of clients used the internet to access health information to be better informed about health issues. Both clients and health care providers had concerns about the legitimacy and accuracy of various online information sources. Clients faced various communication facilitators and barriers when discussing this information with their health care provider. A positive response by the health care provider led to an improved client-clinician relationship, whereas a negative response led to distrust among all parties. Clients would be open to e-health literacy training by their dental hygienists.

Clients' access to online health information can either improve or worsen their experiences and relationships with their dental hygienists, depending on the response by the dental hygienist when these topics are broached. Dental hygienists should consider taking time to provide e-health literacy training to clients during consultations.