Water fluoridation and the quality of information available online

Frangos, Zachary J.; Steffens, Maryke S.; Leask, Julie

doi:10.1111/idj.12377

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The anti-fluoridation web pages were few when compared to the prevalence of neutral web pages. Similar results were observed in a 2018 research study from Australia that assessed the quality of CWF information online 9 . The 'neutral' pages discuss research supporting and opposing CWF with equanimity, irrespective of the quality of scientific evidence 11 .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…This study is limited to the UK as search engines influence the information provided via location and previous search terms. Variability was observed in SERPs and page ranks depending on browsers (usage, settings, history), device, personalisation, time, and place of access; both in this study and previous research 9 . However, this is concerning since most individuals believe that the order in which search engine results appear is indicative of its quality or relevance 24 Seeing as Google Trends results show a spike in public interest around the time of government legislations, public health officials could renew communication efforts around that time to improve visibility of accurate and reliable CWF information on the web.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

“…A study published in the US in 2004 found that 51% of relevant Google SERPs supported CWF, while 31% were opposed to it 8 . Recent studies on the online CWF information have observed that around half of the webpages favoured CWF and presented comprehensive albeit poorly referenced information 9 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Web search engines reveal conflicting information about water fluoridation

et al. 2022

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Aim: To evaluate web search engines' informational content regarding Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) when accessed from the UK.Methods: The search engine result pages (SERPs) regarding CWF from Google were identified, the content was analysed for themes and sentiments, and Google Trends information on CWF was examined.Results: The SERPs were predominantly in favour of CWF. Anti-fluoridation themes were observed in SERPs that presented the arguments supporting and opposing CWF with equanimity, irrespective of the quality of scientific evidence. Hence, a web search for CWF yields conflicting information.Correlation is observed between current affairs and public interest in CWF.Conclusion: UK residents seeking online CWF advice may experience confusion due to the prevalent conflicting information, which may influence their decision-making. Dental health professionals, Public health practitioners and policymakers should strive to improve the information provision on CWF online.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

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Web search engines reveal conflicting information about water fluoridation

et al. 2022

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“…12 Anti-fluoridation websites provide superficial and less credible information than pro-fluoridation sites. 13 Community surveys suggest a modest understanding of the benefits of fluoridated water, and that people believed that decisions about fluoridation should be made by health authorities or governments rather than the community. 11 Some local councils in regional and remote Queensland ended water fluoridation because of its cost and the perceived lack of benefit to councils.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Socio‐economic status and access to fluoridated water in Queensland: an ecological data linkage study

Sexton,

Ha,

et al. 2023

Medical Journal of Australia

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ObjectivesTo investigate the relationship between access to fluoridated drinking water and area‐level socio‐economic status in Queensland.Study designEcological, geospatial data linkage study.SettingQueensland, by statistical area level 2 (SA2), 2021.Main outcome measuresProportion of SA2s and of residents with access to fluoridated drinking water (natural or supplemented); relationship at SA2 level between access to fluoridated water and socio‐economic status (Index of Relative Socio‐economic Advantage and Disadvantage, IRSAD; Index of Economic Resources, IER).ResultsIn 2021, an estimated 4 050 168 people (79.4% of the population) and 397 SA2 regions (72.7%) in Queensland had access to fluoridated water. Access was concentrated in the southeastern corner of the state. After adjusting for SA2 population, log area, and population density, the likelihood of access to fluoridated drinking water almost doubled for each 100‐rank increase in IRSAD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.59–2.36) or IER (aOR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.50–2.11).ConclusionsThe 2012 decision to devolve responsibility for water fluoridation decisions and funding from the Queensland government to local councils means that residents in lower socio‐economic areas are less likely to have access to fluoridated water than those in more advantaged areas, exacerbating their already greater risk of dental disease. Queensland water fluoridation policy should be revised so that all residents can benefit from this evidence‐based public health intervention for reducing the prevalence of dental caries.

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“…As pesquisas conduzidas avaliando o acesso destas informações pela população são amplas. Um estudo, por exemplo, avaliou a qualidade de informações relacionadas a fluoretação de água e utilizou termos também oriundos do Google Trends® (GT), os autores indicaram que há informações relevantes, mas não adequadamente referenciadas, faltando transparência na abordagem do assunto em alguns sites 7 .…”

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Plataforma Google Trends®: Análise do Interesse de Brasileiros na Área de Estética Dentária e Saúde Bucal

et al. 2021

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Introdução: Pesquisas em canais digitais sobre o interesse de brasileiros em diferentes áreas da saúde bucal e estética dentária são relevantes. Objetivo: Este estudo usou a plataforma de busca Google Trends® (GT) a fim de realizar uma revisão para análise sobre dez tópicos importantes para a Odontologia no Brasil. Métodos: A busca foi organizada com palavras chaves relacionadas a estética dentária/facial (A) e saúde bucal (B). Os tópicos foram pesquisados individualmente por meio do índice de volume de pesquisa (IVP). Os dados quantitativos foram submetidos a teste de normalidade e adotado índice de significância de 0.05. Resultados: Os principais resultados indicaram que, no grupo A, clareamento dentário é o termo mais analisado, apresentando diferença significativa na comparação com os demais termos: lente de contato dental, faceta dental, harmonização facial e preenchimento labial, p<0,05. Para o grupo B: saúde bucal e herpes oral foram os termos mais avaliados, não apresentando diferença significativa entre si, p>0,05. Destacou-se que houve um maior IVP para unitermos relacionados a estética dentária/face nos últimos anos (2016-2019), p<0,05, todavia o Grupo B demonstrou menor variação (IVP) no mesmo período. Conclusão: Houve um aumento expressivo no uso de unitermos relacionados ao Grupo A nos últimos anos na plataforma GT e uma tendência de manutenção para os unitermos de saúde bucal. Torna-se importante que políticas de ensino em Odontologia contemplem o interesse da comunidade e valorizem a transmissão e conscientização de informações corretas em Odontologia para o desenvolvimento de uma boa prática de atendimento clínico na comunidade.

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Water fluoridation and the quality of information available online

Cited by 5 publications

References 20 publications

Web search engines reveal conflicting information about water fluoridation

Web search engines reveal conflicting information about water fluoridation

Socio‐economic status and access to fluoridated water in Queensland: an ecological data linkage study

Plataforma Google Trends®: Análise do Interesse de Brasileiros na Área de Estética Dentária e Saúde Bucal

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