DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/EWPZ-2R42
Defense Date
2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Dentistry
Department
Dentistry
First Advisor
Bhavna Shroff
Second Advisor
Caroline Carrico
Third Advisor
Steven J. Lindauer
Abstract
Objective: To determine which website characteristics are preferred by orthodontists, adult patients, and parents of patients.
Materials and Methods: 1,000 active members of the American Association of Orthodontists and 750 active orthodontic patients/parents were sampled. Participants rated the importance of website characteristics, indicated presence of those characteristics on the current website, and ranked sample website images. Preferences were compared between orthodontist and the patient/parent group using t-tests and sample websites were compared using ANOVA models and Tukey’s adjusted post-hoc tests. Significance level was set at 0.05.
Results: 11 of the 16 website features showed significant differences between patients/parents and orthodontists. Participants preferred sample websites with images of people, information at the top of the page, and an ‘about the doctor’ page with a greater amount of information.
Conclusion: This study showed significant differences in preferences between orthodontists and patients/parents, by gender, and between adult patients and parents of adolescent patients.
Rights
© Taylor R. Brown
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-2-2018
Included in
Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Graphic Communications Commons, Graphic Design Commons, Health Communication Commons, Illustration Commons, Orthodontics and Orthodontology Commons, Social Media Commons