Use of WhatsApp in Dental Education: a Scoping Review

Joice Catiane S Martins; Joana Beatriz de Lima; Renata O Cartaxo; Pedro Henrique Sette-de-Souza

doi:10.1007/s40670-022-01520-1

Use of WhatsApp in Dental Education: a Scoping Review

Med Sci Educ. 2022 Feb 26;32(2):561-567. doi: 10.1007/s40670-022-01520-1. eCollection 2022 Apr.

Authors

Joice Catiane S Martins¹, Joana Beatriz de Lima¹, Renata O Cartaxo¹, Pedro Henrique Sette-de-Souza^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ School of Dentistry, Universidade de Pernambuco, São Cristóvão, Arcoverde, Pernambuco Brazil.
² Graduate Program in Health and Socioambiental Development, Universidade de Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Pernambuco Brazil.
³ Graduate Program in Dentistry, Universidade de Pernambuco, Pernambuco Recife, Brazil.

Abstract

Purpose/objective: This study aimed to perform a critical appraisal of WhatsApp use by undergraduate students in dental education.

Methods: A PRISMA-Scoping Review was carried out to explain (i) how has WhatsApp been used as a learning tool in dental education? and (ii) how has WhatsApp been evaluated as a learning tool in dental education? Inclusion criteria are specified as the population (dental students), concept (use of WhatsApp), context (institutions/universities of dental education), and types of sources of evidence (peer-reviewed publication).

Results: Nine studies published between 2016 and 2020 were included in this scoping review. Mostly had a cross-sectional design.

Conclusion: WhatsApp is used in dental education to facilitate communication and improve learning through discussions via the app.

Keywords: Communication skills; Dentistry; E-learning/Computers; Social media; WhatsApp.

Publication types

Review