Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Jul 25;17(7):e88778.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.88778. eCollection 2025 Jul.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Dentists in Maharashtra, India, Regarding Sharing Patients' Data on Social Media: A Questionnaire-Based Study

Nilesh V Joshi  1 , Ashwin Jawdekar  2 , Mridula Joshi  3 , Anupa R Shetty  1 , Mirella Vaz  3 , Sanpreet S Sachdev  4
Affiliations

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Dentists in Maharashtra, India, Regarding Sharing Patients' Data on Social Media: A Questionnaire-Based Study

Nilesh V Joshi et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Background Social media (SM) has become integral to dental practice, offering opportunities for professional interaction and patient engagement. However, it raises significant ethical concerns, particularly regarding patient confidentiality. The aim of the present study was to gauge the knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental professionals in Maharashtra, India, regarding the sharing of patient data on SM, and to assess the ethical considerations associated with this practice. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental professionals in Maharashtra from October to December 2023. Participants were recruited from six dental institutions and various private clinics. A self-structured questionnaire was validated and distributed via Google Forms (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA). Data were analyzed using MedCalc, version 13.2 (MedCalc Software Ltd, Ostend, Belgium) statistical software, with demographic characteristics and response frequencies summarized in tables and graphs. Results Of the 312 participants, 265 completed the survey (response rate: 84.94%). WhatsApp (88.3%) was the most preferred platform, followed by Facebook (54.34%) and Instagram (54.34%). The majority rarely shared patient data on SM. Marketing (63.4%), showcasing treatment results (46.79%), and educating colleagues (46.79%) were primary motivations. While 56.98% agreed that sharing patient data infringes privacy, only 46.04% consistently obtained patient consent. A significant portion (92%) supported establishing guidelines for social media usage. Conclusion Dental professionals in Maharashtra frequently use SM for professional purposes, with WhatsApp being the most popular platform. Despite recognizing privacy concerns, there is a lack of consistent patient consent practices. The findings highlight the need for clear guidelines to balance the benefits of social media with ethical obligations to patient confidentiality and professional conduct.

Keywords: cross-sectional survey; dentistry; patient photographs; patient records; social media.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Informed consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Ethics Committee, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) Dental College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai issued approval BEC433072022, dated August 9, 2023. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

References

    1. Impact of social media on aesthetic dentistry: general practitioners' perspectives. Abbasi MS, Lal A, Das G, et al. Healthcare (Basel) 2022;10 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Social media and web presence for patients and professionals: evolving trends and implications for practice. Barreto JE, Whitehair CL. PM R. 2017;9:0. - PubMed
    1. Can dentists use social media marketing effectively while adhering to ethical guidelines? Analisa S, Setyonugroho W. J Aisyah J Ilmu Kesehat. 2022;7:157–164.
    1. The use of social media for professional purposes by healthcare professionals: the #intEHRAct survey. Guerra F, Linz D, Garcia R, et al. Europace. 2022;24:691–696. - PubMed
    1. Social media and dentistry: ethical and legal aspects. Simplício AH. Dental Press J Orthod. 2019;24:80–89. - PMC - PubMed