Professional EthicsNCT07550153
Dental Communication and Social Media: Legal and Ethical Framework
An observational study of Professional Ethics and Health Communication, run by University of Roma La Sapienza at 1 site in Italy.
Trial summary
This observational study explores the legal and ethical boundaries of dental communication on social media, analyzing Italian regulatory evolution. Through surveys involving dental professionals and patients, it assesses awareness of advertising regulations and the impact of digital communication on the… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Professional Ethics, Health Communication, Social Media
- What is being tested?
- Survey using a questionnaire.
- How many people
- 300 participants
- Where
- 1 siteItaly
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2025to 1 Jan 2027
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: The study population consists of three distinct cohorts based in Italy: * Dental healthcare providers, including licensed dentists and dental hygienists, recruited through professional networks and social media groups to ensure a broad representation of clinical experience. * A diverse group of Italian-speaking patients and social media users who interact with healthcare-related digital content. * General healthcare professionals from various medical disciplines. The sample includes adults (18+) of all genders, representing a cross-section of both information providers (practitioners) and information consumers (patients) within the digital healthcare ecosystem.
Who may be able to join
- For Group 1 (Dental Professionals): Registered Dentists or Dental Hygienists currently practicing in Italy.
- For Group 2 (Patients): Individuals who use social media platforms and have accessed or are interested in dental healthcare information online.
- For Group 3 (General Healthcare Professionals): Medical doctors and health practitioners from various specialties interested in digital communication ethics.
- Age: Minimum 18 years of age.
- Consent: Participants must be willing to provide informed consent for data collection and analysis.
- Language: Ability to understand and read Italian.
Who cannot join
- Individuals under 18 years of age.
- Individuals who do not use social media platforms.
- Incomplete survey submissions where the primary data points are missing.
- Healthcare professionals not registered with their respective Italian professional orders.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Italy1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Sapienza università di Roma
Roma, RM, 00161
Fabrizio Guerra, 3283150627, prof.fabrizio.guerra@gmail.com
About this study
Official title: Legal Considerations on Dental Communication Via Social Media: Liability, Ethics, and Regulatory Evolution
This observational study explores the legal and ethical boundaries of dental communication on social media, analyzing Italian regulatory evolution. Through surveys involving dental professionals and patients, it assesses awareness of advertising regulations and the impact of digital communication on the patient-practitioner relationship. The research identifies knowledge gaps regarding deceptive advertising and highlights the need for transparent, deontologically compliant digital practices to protect public health.
Read the detailed description
This observational study investigates the legal and ethical framework of healthcare communication on social media, with a specific focus on the dental sector. The research evaluates the impact of Italian regulatory shifts on professional digital practices.
The study architecture is based on a survey conducted through validated online questionnaires, targeting three distinct groups:
- Dental Practitioners (Dentists and Dental Hygienists): To evaluate their awareness of advertising regulations and clinical data protection (GDPR).
- Healthcare Professionals (General Perspective): To analyze the broader application of deontological codes and ethical responsibilities in digital health communication.
- Patients: To assess the public's perception, the usefulness of online dental information, and the risk of deceptive advertising.
The analysis focuses on identifying common pitfalls in digital communication, such as the risk of deceptive advertising and the violation of deontological codes. By comparing the perspectives of practitioners and patients, the study aims to highlight the gap between legal requirements and current social media practices, ultimately proposing guidelines for transparent, ethical, and legally compliant digital engagement in the dental field.
- Conditions
- Professional Ethics, Health Communication, Social Media
- Being tested
- Survey using a questionnaire.
- Keywords
- Healthcare Communication, Professional Ethics, Medical Jurisprudence, Social Media in Health, Health Advertising Regulations
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Survey using a questionnaire.Other
Participants complete an anonymous online questionnaire (Google Forms) consisting of multiple-choice and Likert-scale questions regarding healthcare communication laws, ethics, and social media usage.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1: Dental Professionals | Dentists and Dental Hygienists practicing in Italy, surveyed to assess their knowledge of advertising regulations and digital ethics. Receives: Other: Survey using a questionnaire. | |
| Group 2: Patients | Individuals who consume healthcare information via social media, surveyed to evaluate their perception of dental advertising and its impact on their choices. Receives: Other: Survey using a questionnaire. | |
| Group 3: General Healthcare Professionals | A broad group of healthcare practitioners surveyed to analyze the general application of deontological codes in digital communication. Receives: Other: Survey using a questionnaire. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Level of legal and ethical awareness regarding healthcare advertising
Assessment of participants' awareness of Italian regulations and ethical principles related to healthcare advertising through a structured questionnaire developed for this study, including both knowledge-based and self-assessment items.
The questionnaire will consist of:
- objective items (multiple-choice questions assessing factual knowledge)
- subjective items (self-reported level of information and awareness) A composite awareness score will be calculated by assigning scores on a Likert scale (e.g., 1-5) for self-assessment items
Measured: At the time of survey completion (baseline)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Apr 2026
- Study start1 Jan 2025
- Primary completion1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Jan 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Professional EthicsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Roma La SapienzaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 300 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Roma La Sapienza
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Fabrizio Guerra, University of Roma La Sapienza
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07550153
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 123
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 29 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Ruiz M, Kabani F, Cotter J. A review of the effects of oral health media hype on clients' perception of treatment. Can J Dent Hyg. 2022 Feb 1;56(1):31-38. eCollection 2022 Feb.
PubMed 35401762
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Legal Considerations on Dental Communication Via Social Media: Liability, Ethics, and Regulatory Evolution
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07550153
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 123
- Conditions
- Professional Ethics, Health Communication, Social Media
- Keywords
- Healthcare Communication, Professional Ethics, Medical Jurisprudence, Social Media in Health, Health Advertising Regulations
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 300 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Roma La SapienzaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 24 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This observational study explores the legal and ethical boundaries of dental communication on social media, analyzing Italian regulatory evolution. Through surveys involving dental professionals and patients, it assesses awareness of advertising regulations and the impact of digital communication on the patient-practitioner relationship. The research identifies knowledge gaps regarding deceptive advertising and highlights the need for transparent, deontologically compliant digital practices to protect public health.
Detailed description
This observational study investigates the legal and ethical framework of healthcare communication on social media, with a specific focus on the dental sector. The research evaluates the impact of Italian regulatory shifts on professional digital practices.
The study architecture is based on a survey conducted through validated online questionnaires, targeting three distinct groups:
- Dental Practitioners (Dentists and Dental Hygienists): To evaluate their awareness of advertising regulations and clinical data protection (GDPR).
- Healthcare Professionals (General Perspective): To analyze the broader application of deontological codes and ethical responsibilities in digital health communication.
- Patients: To assess the public's perception, the usefulness of online dental information, and the risk of deceptive advertising.
The analysis focuses on identifying common pitfalls in digital communication, such as the risk of deceptive advertising and the violation of deontological codes. By comparing the perspectives of practitioners and patients, the study aims to highlight the gap between legal requirements and current social media practices, ultimately proposing guidelines for transparent, ethical, and legally compliant digital engagement in the dental field.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1: Dental Professionals | – | Other: Survey using a questionnaire.Dentists and Dental Hygienists practicing in Italy, surveyed to assess their knowledge of advertising regulations and digital ethics. |
| Group 2: Patients | – | Other: Survey using a questionnaire.Individuals who consume healthcare information via social media, surveyed to evaluate their perception of dental advertising and its impact on their choices. |
| Group 3: General Healthcare Professionals | – | Other: Survey using a questionnaire.A broad group of healthcare practitioners surveyed to analyze the general application of deontological codes in digital communication. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- The study population consists of three distinct cohorts based in Italy: * Dental healthcare providers, including licensed dentists and dental hygienists, recruited through professional networks and social media groups to ensure a broad representation of clinical experience. * A diverse group of Italian-speaking patients and social media users who interact with healthcare-related digital content. * General healthcare professionals from various medical disciplines. The sample includes adults (18+) of all genders, representing a cross-section of both information providers (practitioners) and information consumers (patients) within the digital healthcare ecosystem.
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- For Group 1 (Dental Professionals): Registered Dentists or Dental Hygienists currently practicing in Italy.
- For Group 2 (Patients): Individuals who use social media platforms and have accessed or are interested in dental healthcare information online.
- For Group 3 (General Healthcare Professionals): Medical doctors and health practitioners from various specialties interested in digital communication ethics.
- Age: Minimum 18 years of age.
- Consent: Participants must be willing to provide informed consent for data collection and analysis.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Individuals under 18 years of age.
- Individuals who do not use social media platforms.
- Incomplete survey submissions where the primary data points are missing.
- Healthcare professionals not registered with their respective Italian professional orders.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Survey using a questionnaire.Participants complete an anonymous online questionnaire (Google Forms) consisting of multiple-choice and Likert-scale questions regarding healthcare communication laws, ethics, and social media usage. | Other | Group 1: Dental Professionals, Group 2: Patients, Group 3: General Healthcare Professionals |
Primary outcome
Level of legal and ethical awareness regarding healthcare advertising
Time frame: At the time of survey completion (baseline)
Assessment of participants' awareness of Italian regulations and ethical principles related to healthcare advertising through a structured questionnaire developed for this study, including both knowledge-based and self-assessment items. The questionnaire will consist of: * objective items (multiple-choice questions assessing factual knowledge) * subjective items (self-reported level of information and awareness) A composite awareness score will be calculated by assigning scores on a Likert scale (e.g., 1-5) for self-assessment items
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Apr 2026.
- Background: PubMed 35401762Ruiz M, Kabani F, Cotter J. A review of the effects of oral health media hype on clients' perception of treatment. Can J Dent Hyg. 2022 Feb 1;56(1):31-38. eCollection 2022 Feb.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Professional Ethics and Health Communication, run by University of Roma La Sapienza at 1 site in Italy.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Italy. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Fabrizio Guerra (3283150627, fabrizio.guerra@uniroma1.it), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Level of legal and ethical awareness regarding healthcare advertising (time frame: At the time of survey completion (baseline)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07550153, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Apr 2026.