Dental social media communication: what legal and ethical rules apply
Legal Considerations on Dental Communication Via Social Media: Liability, Ethics, and Regulatory Evolution
This project tests whether dentists, other health professionals, and patients in Italy understand and follow the legal and ethical rules for dental communication on social media.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 300 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Roma La Sapienza Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Roma, RM) |
| Trial ID | NCT07550153 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational research uses validated online questionnaires to survey three groups—dental practitioners (dentists and dental hygienists), other healthcare professionals, and patients—about their knowledge and practices around dental communication on social media. It focuses on recent changes in Italian regulations and GDPR implications, asking about awareness of advertising rules, data protection, and examples of potentially deceptive content. Responses are compared across groups to identify gaps between legal requirements and real-world online behavior and to map common pitfalls such as misleading advertising or breaches of deontological codes. Findings will inform proposed guidelines for transparent, ethical, and legally compliant digital engagement in the dental sector.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults in Italy who can read Italian and either are registered dental or other healthcare professionals working in Italy, or patients who use social media and look for dental health information online.
Not a fit: People under 18, individuals who do not use social media, and healthcare professionals not registered in Italy are unlikely to benefit from or be eligible for this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to clearer guidance and training that reduce deceptive advertising and improve patient protection in online dental communication.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies on health communication and social media have documented variability in practitioner awareness and risks of misleading advertising, but focused analyses of the Italian dental legal and deontological framework are limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * For Group 1 (Dental Professionals): Registered Dentists or Dental Hygienists currently practicing in Italy. * For Group 2 (Patients): Individuals who use social media platforms and have accessed or are interested in dental healthcare information online. * For Group 3 (General Healthcare Professionals): Medical doctors and health practitioners from various specialties interested in digital communication ethics. * Age: Minimum 18 years of age. * Consent: Participants must be willing to provide informed consent for data collection and analysis. * Language: Ability to understand and read Italian. Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals under 18 years of age. * Individuals who do not use social media platforms. * Incomplete survey submissions where the primary data points are missing. * Healthcare professionals not registered with their respective Italian professional orders.
Where this trial is running
Roma, RM
- Sapienza università di Roma — Roma, Rm, Italy (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Fabrizio Guerra
- Email: fabrizio.guerra@uniroma1.it
- Phone: 3283150627
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.