Dental practitioners’ perspectives on IDIOT syndrome – A cross-sectional survey

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Public Health Dentistry, Tamil Nadu Government Dental College & Hospital, Chennai, India

Abstract

Background: The advent of the digital age has ushered in many benefits that have transformed how we live and work. The internet has brought about many positive changes, but has also led to challenges, such as the emergence of internet-derived information obstructing treatment (IDIOT) syndrome (IS). Thus, this survey aimed to assess the perspectives of dental practitioners regarding IS.
Methods: This cross-sectional mixed-mode survey was conducted among 430 dental practitioners in Chennai using a multi-stage sampling method. A customized pretested questionnaire was used to assess the practitioners’ perspectives regarding IS. Descriptive analysis was done using SPSS software version 25.
Results: Out of the 800 participants, 430 completed the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 56%. Most dental practitioners who participated in the survey had a clinical experience of more than 5 years. About 65.60% of the dental practitioners were aware of IS, and most (83%) had encountered patients with the condition. Patients used internet-derived information mostly to check their symptom-related conditions (73.9%) and for self-medication and home remedies (68.8%). Most dental practitioners (86.7%) perceived that such patients did not comply with the prescribed treatment plan.
Conclusion: This survey found that most dental practitioners frequently encounter patients with IDIOT syndrome, which influences the prescribed treatment plan. The management of such patients jeopardizes the psychological health and well-being of healthcare professionals. Therefore, it is essential to address the proliferation of misleading healthcare information online through regulatory measures that ensure the credibility and accuracy of such content.

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Journal of Oral Health and Oral Epidemiology
Volume 14, Issue 1
January 2025
Pages 1-6

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History

  • Receive Date: 29 May 2024
  • Revise Date: 04 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 03 May 2025

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