title: Internet use, online information seeking and knowledge among third molar patients attending public dental services.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While Australians are searching the internet for third molar (TM) information, the usefulness of online sources may be questioned due to quality variation. This study explored: (i) internet use, online information-seeking behaviour among TM patients attending public dental services; and (ii) whether patients' TM knowledge scores are associated with the level of internet use and eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline survey data from the 'Engaging Patients in Decision-Making' study were used. Variables included: sociodemographics, internet access status, online information-seeking behaviour, eHEALS, the Control Preferences Scale (CPS) and TM knowledge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants (N = 165) were mainly female (73.8%), aged 19-25 years (42.4%) and had 'secondary school or less' education (58.4%). A majority (N = 79, 52.7%) had sought online dental information which was associated with active decisional control preference (odds ratio = 3.1, P = 0.034) and higher educational attainment (odds ratio = 2.7, P = 0.040). TM knowledge scores were not associated with either the level of internet use (F(2,152)= 2.1, P = 0.094, χ2= 0.0310) or the eHEALS scores (r = 0.147, P = 0.335).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  'The internet-prepared patient' phenomena exists among public TM patients and was explained by preference for involvement in decision-making. However, internet use was not associated with better TM knowledge. Providing TM patients with internet guidance may be an opportunity to improve TM knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: K
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2747-5220
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.affiliation: Adelaide Dental Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8090-1543
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sambrook
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: J M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7962-7559
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Armfield
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: D S
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7888-0920
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Brennan
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003729:Dental Care; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third; D010358:Patient Participation; D011636:Public Health Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Control Preferences Scale; eHealth Literacy Scale; information-seeking behaviour; internet; wisdom tooth