Factors Associated with Online Media Literacy on Oral Health Among High School Students in Thawatburi District, Roi Et Province

Authors

  • Polthawat Supanuam Thawat Buri Hospital

Keywords:

สื่อสังคมออนไลน์, การรู้เท่าทันสื่อออนไลน์, ข้อมูลสุขภาพช่องปาก, นักเรียน

Abstract

Purposes: To examine the situation and factors associated with the use of social media and oral health media literacy among high school students.

Study design: A cross-sectional survey study. 

Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 224 high school students (Grades 10–12) from schools in Thawat Buri District, selected through cluster random sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, with a statistical significance level set at .05.

Main of findings: 1) Online media usage behavior: Most respondents accessed oral health information via the internet/social media (39.73%), spent 7–9 hours/day on online platforms (46.88%), preferred TikTok (33.44%), and used online media to search for oral health information (71.80%). The most sought-after content was orthodontics (17.63%). 2) Information exposure behavior: Overall exposure was at a moderate level, particularly for watching short video clips (Shorts) on oral health care. 3)Social media literacy: Overall literacy was moderate, with access to media being a notable dimension, and 4) Associated factors: Gender and exposure behavior to oral health information were significantly correlated with oral health media literacy. 

Conclusion and Recommendations: The study highlights the importance of social media literacy regarding orthodontics and oral care products marketed online. Students should critically evaluate media content by separating emotions from facts to avoid undue influence. Schools and health agencies should promote media literacy programs to enhance discerning consumption of oral health information. 

References

Maharani D A, Tantawi M El, Yoseph M G, Rahardjo A. The use of internet platforms for oral health information and associated factors among adolescents from Jakarta: a cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health. 2021;21(1):22.

กรมอนามัย. สำนักทันตสาธารณสุข. รายงานผลการสำรวจสภาวะทันตสุขภาพแห่งชาติ ครั้งที่ 9 พ.ศ. 2566. นนทบุรี: กรมกรมอนามัย; 2566.

สำนักทันตสาธารณสุข กรมอนามัย. การบริโภคขนมกรุบกรอบในเด็กไทย [อินเทอร์เน็ต]. 2561 [เข้าถึงเมื่อ 24 พฤษภาคม 2566]. เข้าถึงได้จาก: https://nutrition2.anamai.moph.go.th/th/dm-km/download?did=14332&id=40484&lang=th&mid=31943&mkey=m_document

สำนักทันตสาธารณสุข กรมอนามัย. คู่มือการสำรวจสภาวะทันตสุขภาพและปัจจัยเสี่ยง (เพื่อการเฝ้าระวังทันตสุขภาพ [อินเทอร์เน็ต]. [เข้าถึง เมื่อ 24 พฤษภาคม 2566]. เข้าถึงได้จาก: http://dental2.anamai.moph.go.th/ewt_dl_link.php?nid=2087

Department of Provincial Administration. Statistical registration system [Internet]. Bangkok: Department of Provincial Administration; 2023 [cited 2023 May 24]. Available from: https://stat.bora.dopa.go.th/stat/statnew/statMenu/newStat/home.php

Subburaman N. Effectiveness of social media based oral health promotion programme among college students in Chennai- An intervention study. Masters thesis, Ragas Dental College and Hospital: Chennai; 2018.

Almozainy M. Assessing the use of social media as a source of information related to dentistry in Saudi Arabia. Dent Health Oral Disord Ther. 2017;8(7):663-8

Scheerman J F M, Hamilton K, Sharif M O, Lindmark U, Pakpour A H. A theory-based intervention delivered by an online social media platform to promote oral health among Iranian adolescents: a cluster randomized controlled trial. Psychology & Health. 2020;35(4): 449-66.

Althunayan A, Alsalhi R, Elmoazen R. Role of social media in dental health promotion and behavior change in Qassim province, Saudi Arabia Inter J Med and Health Res. 2018;4(2):98-103.

Almaiman S, Bahkali S, Alabdulatif N, Bahkaly A, Al-Surimi K, Househ M. Promoting Oral Health Using Social Media Platforms: Seeking Arabic Online Oral Health Related Information (OHRI). Stud Health Technol Inform. 2016;226:283-6.

สุภารักษ์ จูตระกูล. Digital literacy, digital natives and family. Journal of Management Science Chiangrai Rajabhat University. 2016;11(1):132-51.

Moorhead S A, Hazlett D E, Harrison L, Carroll J K, Irwin A, Hoving C A New Dimension of Health Care: Systematic Review of the Uses, Benefits, and Limitations of Social Media for Health Communication. J Med Internet Res. 2013;15(4):e85

Wanga Y, McKeeb M, Torbicaa A, Stuckler D. Systematic literature review on the spread of health-related misinformation on social media. Social Science & Medicine. 2019;240.

Levin-Zamir D, Lemish D, Gofin R. Media Health Literacy (MHL) development and measurement of the concept among adolescents. Health Educ Res. 2011;26(2):323-35.

Krejcie R V, Morgan D W. Determining sample size for research activities. Educ Psychol Meas. 1970;30:607-10.

Likert R. The method of constructing an attitude scale. In: Fishbein M, editor. Attitude theory and measurement. New York: Wiley; 1967.p.90–95.

Pearson K. Notes on the history of correlation. Biometrika. 1920;13(1):25–45.

Prapaisit S, Wichayakorn P, Suttichaya W. Health information seeking behavior among female adolescents in Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Journal of Public Health. 2022;52(3): 345-57.

Sukwong P, Nitiwichakarn S, Tepariyakul K. Factors associated with health literacy, self-efficacy, social support, and oral health care behaviors among elderly in northern border community Thailand. Clinical Interventions in Aging. 2021;16:1427-37.

Dewi R M, Maharani D A, El Tantawi M, Yoseph M G, Rahardjo A. The use of internet platforms for oral health information and associated factors among adolescents from Jakarta: a crosssectional study. BMC Oral Health. 2020;21(1):22.

Manganello J A. Health literacy and adolescents: A framework and agenda for future research. Health Education Research. 2017;23(5):840-7.

Silva A E, Menezes A M, Assunção M C, Gonçalves H, Demarco F F, Vargas-Ferreira F. Peres, et al. Validation of self-reported information on dental caries in a birth cohort at 18 years of age. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology. 2021;42(5):406-14.

Nazari M, Hasanzadeh F, Esmaeili M, Karimi S. Opportunities and challenges of social media for oral health literacy improvement: A qualitative investigation based on Iranian dentists' perspectives. BMC Health Services Research. 2025;25(1):12.

Borzekowski D L, Fobil J N, Asante K O. Online access by adolescents in Accra: Ghanaian teens' use of the Internet for health information. Developmental Psychology. 2009;42(3):450-48.

Downloads

Published

2025-06-19 — Updated on 2025-06-19

Versions

How to Cite

1.
Supanuam P. Factors Associated with Online Media Literacy on Oral Health Among High School Students in Thawatburi District, Roi Et Province. J Res Health Inno Dev [internet]. 2025 Jun. 19 [cited 2026 Jan. 25];6(2):166-79. available from: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jrhi/article/view/280409

Issue

Section

Original Articles