Jane A Weintraub1,2, Alice R Jamison3, R Gary Rozier2, Kathryn A Atchison4. 1. Division of Pediatric and Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. 2. Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. 3. General Practice Resident, Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC), Asheville, NC, USA. 4. Division of Public Health and Community Dentistry, University of California at Los Angeles School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Determine the prevalence and type of oral health (OH) content among nondental health professional associations' websites. METHODS: Fifty-nine organizations were selected from three lists of health professional associations and categorized as physician-, nurse- and other healthcare-related professions. Eight dental search terms were used on searchable websites. Six types of OH information were collected. Websites were assessed for any OH content and comparisons made. Frequencies, chi-square, and Fisher extract test statistics were calculated. RESULTS: Thirty-five (59 percent) of websites had any OH information content. Twenty (34 percent) had OH authored content, 10-19 percent had OH webpages, interest groups, or initiatives, CE courses or webinars, or curriculum information. The term "oral hygiene" gave the greatest yield and "dentistry" the least. No significant differences in existence of "Any OH content" was found between each organization type versus others. CONCLUSION: Many nondental professional associations could increase OH website content and education with assistance from dental organizations.
OBJECTIVES: Determine the prevalence and type of oral health (OH) content among nondental health professional associations' websites. METHODS: Fifty-nine organizations were selected from three lists of health professional associations and categorized as physician-, nurse- and other healthcare-related professions. Eight dental search terms were used on searchable websites. Six types of OH information were collected. Websites were assessed for any OH content and comparisons made. Frequencies, chi-square, and Fisher extract test statistics were calculated. RESULTS: Thirty-five (59 percent) of websites had any OH information content. Twenty (34 percent) had OH authored content, 10-19 percent had OH webpages, interest groups, or initiatives, CE courses or webinars, or curriculum information. The term "oral hygiene" gave the greatest yield and "dentistry" the least. No significant differences in existence of "Any OH content" was found between each organization type versus others. CONCLUSION: Many nondental professional associations could increase OH website content and education with assistance from dental organizations.