Observational Study on Legal and Ethical Issues in Dental Communication on Social Media in Italy

What this Trial Is About

This observational study examines the legal and ethical aspects of dental communication on social media, focusing on changes in Italian regulations. Researchers aim to understand how these rules affect digital practices among dental professionals, healthcare workers, and patients. The study highlights the importance of ethical communication to protect public health and prevent misleading advertising online. Participants include three groups dental practitioners such as dentists and dental hygienists practicing in Italy, general healthcare professionals from various specialties, and patients who use social media for dental health information. Each group completes an anonymous online questionnaire with multiple-choice and rating scale questions about their knowledge and perceptions of healthcare advertising laws, ethics, and social media use. Participants involvement involves filling out validated online surveys to assess awareness and attitudes toward advertising regulations and digital communication ethics. The main outcome measured is the level of legal and ethical awareness about healthcare advertising at the time of survey completion. The study runs from January 2025 to January 2027, with data collected anonymously and analyzed to identify gaps and propose guidelines for transparent and ethical dental communication online.

Dental Communication and Social Media: Legal and Ethical Framework