Awareness and usage of mobile applications as an orthodontic diagnostic tool among Croatian orthodontic clinicians

Abstract

Objective: To assess the impact of gender and orthodontic qualification length on the awareness, knowledge and usage of orthodontic diagnostic mobile applications, non-diagnostic mobile applications and social media platforms among orthodontic clinicians. Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. Setting: The Republic of Croatia. Participants: A total of 92 orthodontic specialists, members of the Croatian Dental Chamber. Methods: This study was conducted using a questionnaire distributed via email to orthodontic clinicians between May and July 2022. Results: In total, 92 respondents were divided into groups according to sex and median orthodontic qualification length: more recently qualified (MRQ) with ⩽12 years; and longer qualified (LQ) with >12 years. Nearly one-third of respondents did not have any prior knowledge of mobile applications used as an orthodontic diagnostic tool. MRQ respondents were more interested in using mobile apps as opposed to computer software for digital analysis ( P < 0.05). This interest was in a negative correlation with orthodontic qualification length ( P < 0.01) and was more prevalent among female respondents ( P < 0.001). About one-third (32.6%) of respondents did not use non-diagnostic mobile applications and 44.6% did not use social media platforms. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of the respondents did not promote their work through social media. Male respondents and LQ promoted their work more frequently than others ( P < 0.05). The usage of other mobile applications was in a positive correlation with the knowledge and awareness of orthodontic mobile applications ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: Orthodontic clinicians lacked knowledge, awareness and the usage of orthodontic diagnostic mobile applications according to sex and orthodontic qualification length. One-third used non-diagnostic mobile applications and less than half used social platforms in daily clinical work.