Schools and parents should support the use of responsible social media

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 44 views

Utilization of Social Media in Improving Knowledge, Attitudes, and Dental Health Behavior in Class IX Students of Private Middle Schools in Medan

Introduction

In the current digital era, the rapid development of information and communication technology has led to the widespread use of the internet and social media as primary communication tools among people. For teenagers, social media has become a means to access various information, including those related to dental and oral health. This study aims to explore how the use of social media affects the level of knowledge, attitudes, and oral health behavior in class IX students in private junior high schools in the area of Medan.

The Importance of Social Media in Dental and Oral Health Education

Social media has become an essential tool for accessing information, including those related to dental and oral health. With the increasing use of smartphones, social media has become a primary source of information for teenagers. The use of social media can play a significant role in forming positive attitudes and behaviors related to oral health. However, the effectiveness of social media in improving knowledge, attitudes, and oral health behavior among teenagers remains unclear.

Research Methodology

This research was conducted with an analytic approach, involving 200 students as samples. The selection of samples was carried out through simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques to determine the location of private junior high schools. Meanwhile, student selection is carried out with multistage random sampling techniques. Data regarding the level of knowledge, attitudes, and oral health behavior is obtained through filling out questionnaires by respondents. Data analysis includes univariate tests, chi-square tests, spearman correlation tests, and Mann-Whitney tests to get accurate results.

Research Result

The results showed that 90.5% of respondents had a good level of knowledge about oral health, while 62.5% had a good attitude. However, the level of dental and oral health behavior is only in the medium category, with a percentage of 57.5%. It is known that 82.5% of respondents prefer to use social media over traditional media which are only used by 58.5% of respondents.

Although social media is the main source of information, statistical analysis shows that there is no significant relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and oral health, with values p = 0.093 and p = 0.253. However, there is a significant relationship between attitude and behavior, with P = 0,000 and a significant relationship strength (R = 0.340). In addition, no difference in the average of dental and oral health knowledge based on gender (p = 0.097), but there are significant differences in the attitudes and behavior of dental and oral health with the value of p = 0,000 and p = 0.003.

The Role of Social Media in Improving Dental and Oral Health Education

The results of this study suggest that social media can play an important role in improving dental and oral health education among teenagers. The use of social media can provide access to accurate information about oral health, which can help to form positive attitudes and behaviors related to oral health. However, the effectiveness of social media in improving knowledge, attitudes, and oral health behavior among teenagers remains unclear.

Conclusion

From the results of this study, it can be concluded that there was a shift from traditional media to new media such as the internet and social media as a source of dental and oral health knowledge among teenagers in grade IX of private junior high schools. The use of social media can play an important role in forming positive attitudes and behaviors related to oral health. Therefore, it is important for the school and parents to support the use of responsible social media and provide accurate information about oral health to students. Active involvement in providing education through social media can help increase awareness and better oral health and behavior among adolescents.

Recommendations

Based on the results of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Schools and parents should support the use of responsible social media. Schools and parents should encourage the use of social media as a means to access accurate information about oral health.
Provide accurate information about oral health. Schools and parents should provide accurate information about oral health to students through social media.
Active involvement in providing education through social media. Schools and parents should actively involve in providing education through social media to increase awareness and better oral health and behavior among adolescents.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations, including:

Sample size. The sample size of this study was limited to 200 students.
Sampling method. The sampling method used in this study was simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques.
Data analysis. The data analysis used in this study was limited to univariate tests, chi-square tests, spearman correlation tests, and Mann-Whitney tests.

Future Research Directions

Future research should focus on the following areas:

Investigating the effectiveness of social media in improving knowledge, attitudes, and oral health behavior among teenagers.
Examining the role of social media in improving dental and oral health education among teenagers.
Investigating the impact of social media on oral health behavior among teenagers.

References

World Health Organization. (2019). Oral Health.
American Dental Association. (2020). Oral Health.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Oral Health.

Appendix

Questionnaire. The questionnaire used in this study is provided in the appendix.
Data analysis. The data analysis used in this study is provided in the appendix.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Utilization of Social Media in Improving Knowledge, Attitudes, and Dental Health Behavior in Class IX Students of Private Middle Schools in Medan

Q: What is the main objective of this study?

A: The main objective of this study is to explore how the use of social media affects the level of knowledge, attitudes, and oral health behavior in class IX students in private junior high schools in the area of Medan.

Q: What is the significance of this study?

A: This study is significant because it provides insights into the role of social media in improving dental and oral health education among teenagers. The findings of this study can help schools and parents to develop effective strategies to promote oral health among adolescents.

Q: What is the sample size of this study?

A: The sample size of this study is 200 students.

Q: What is the sampling method used in this study?

A: The sampling method used in this study is simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques.

Q: What is the data analysis used in this study?

A: The data analysis used in this study includes univariate tests, chi-square tests, spearman correlation tests, and Mann-Whitney tests.

Q: What are the findings of this study?

A: The findings of this study show that 90.5% of respondents had a good level of knowledge about oral health, while 62.5% had a good attitude. However, the level of dental and oral health behavior is only in the medium category, with a percentage of 57.5%.

Q: Is there a significant relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and oral health?

A: No, there is no significant relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and oral health, with values p = 0.093 and p = 0.253.

Q: Is there a significant relationship between attitude and behavior?

A: Yes, there is a significant relationship between attitude and behavior, with P = 0,000 and a significant relationship strength (R = 0.340).

Q: Are there any differences in the average of dental and oral health knowledge based on gender?

A: No, there are no differences in the average of dental and oral health knowledge based on gender, with p = 0.097.

Q: Are there any differences in the attitudes and behavior of dental and oral health based on gender?

A: Yes, there are significant differences in the attitudes and behavior of dental and oral health based on gender, with p = 0,000 and p = 0.003.

Q: What are the implications of this study?

A: The implications of this study are that social media can play an important role in improving dental and oral health education among teenagers. Schools and parents should support the use of responsible social media and provide accurate information about oral health to students.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: The limitations of this study are:

Sample size: The sample size of this study is limited to 200 students.
Sampling method: The sampling method used in this study is simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques.
Data analysis: The data analysis used in this study is limited to univariate tests, chi-square tests, spearman correlation tests, and Mann-Whitney tests.

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: Future research should focus on the following areas:

Investigating the effectiveness of social media in improving knowledge, attitudes, and oral health behavior among teenagers.
Examining the role of social media in improving dental and oral health education among teenagers.
Investigating the impact of social media on oral health behavior among teenagers.

Q: What are the references used in this study?

A: The references used in this study are:

World Health Organization. (2019). Oral Health.
American Dental Association. (2020). Oral Health.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Oral Health.