| Literature DB >> 35048070 |
Kimberly J Hammersmith1,2, Macaire C Thiel1,2, Matthew J Messina2, Paul S Casamassimo1,2, Janice A Townsend1,2.
Abstract
Investigators evaluated feasibility, acceptability, and sustainability of a teledentistry pilot program within a children's hospital network between March, 2018, and April, 2019. The program connected dentists to medical personnel and patients being treated in urgent care clinics, a primary care clinic, and a freestanding emergency department via synchronous video consultation. Three separate but parallel questionnaires evaluated caregiver, medical personnel, and dentist perspectives on the experience. Utilization of teledentistry was very low (2%, 14/826 opportunities), but attitudes regarding this service were largely positive among all groups involved and across all survey domains. Uptake of new technology has barriers but teledentistry may be an acceptable service, especially in the case of dental trauma.Entities:
Keywords: dental trauma; dentistry; emergency department; teledentistry; urgent care
Year: 2021 PMID: 35048070 PMCID: PMC8757768 DOI: 10.3389/froh.2021.769988
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Front Oral Health ISSN: 2673-4842
Frequency of dental diagnosis codes at five medical sites during pilot period.
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| K00.1, K09.0, K09.8, K12.0, K12.1, K12.30, K13.0, K13.21, K13.4, K13.70, K13.79 | Lesions, cysts, pathology | 266 | 32 | 0 | 0 |
| K04.7, K12.2, L03.211, L03.213 | Cellulitis or infections | 151 | 18 | 3 | 21 |
| K00.2, K02.9, K08.89, K08.9 | Caries and tooth disorders | 153 | 19 | 3 | 21 |
| K00.6, K00.7 | Teething and eruption | 134 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| K05.00, K05.5, K05.6, K05.10, K05.219, K06.1, K06.8, K06.9 | Gingivitis and periodontal disease | 73 | 9 | 1 | 7 |
| K03.81, K08.109, S02.5XXA, S02.5XXB, S03.2XXA, S03.2XXD | Trauma | 43 | 5 | 7 | 50 |
| K11.1, K11.20, K11.21, K11.6, K11.7, K11.8 | Salivary glands | 31 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 851 | 100 | 14 | 100 | |
851 codes noted, with 826 individual patients, as some patients received multiple diagnostic codes during their encounters.
Figure 1Location of patients (%) with oral or dental chief complaint.
Selection of teledentistry survey questions by domain.
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| N/A | Using the videoconferencing software (Healthchat) was: | Using the videoconferencing software (Healthchat) was: |
| VE: 33%, E: 42%, N: 25%, D: 0%, VD: 0% | VE: 43%, E: 50%, N: 0%, D: 7%, VD: 0% | |
| N/A | Maneuvering the intraoral camera for live video was: | Directing and instructing medical staff to use the intraoral camera was: |
| VE: 42%, E: 50%, N: 8%, D: 0%, VD: 0% | VE: 7%, E: 57%, N: 14%, D: 21%, VD: 0% | |
| N/A | The instructions for connecting to Healthchat were clear and accurate | The instructions for connecting and conducting a consult via Healthchat were clear and accurate |
| SA: 50%, A: 42%, N: 8%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | SA: 43%, A: 57%, N: 0%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | |
| I think the dentist could hear and see my child's problem as well as if the dentist were in the room | N/A | I could hear and visually assess the patient's area of concern as well as if I were there in person |
| SA: 58%, A: 33%, N: 8%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | SA: 29%, A: 29%, N: 29%, D: 14%, SD: 0% | |
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| I was comfortable with the teledentistry process | I was comfortable with the teledentistry process | I was comfortable with the teledentistry process |
| SA: 75%, A: 25%, N: 0%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | SA: 42%, A: 50%, N: 8%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | SA: 50%, A: 43%, N: 0%, D: 7%, SD: 0% |
| Someone explained to me that we were going to use teledentistry so that I knew what to expect | N/A | N/A |
| Yes: 100%, No: 0% | ||
| I feel that my personal information was protected during the interaction with the dentist | N/A | N/A |
| SA: 83%, A: 8%, N: 8%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | ||
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| The dentist understood my child's problem | I think the dentist understood the patient's problem | I was able to gather necessary information to make a recommendation or diagnosis I felt comfortable with, as I would with a non-teledentistry patient |
| SA: 75%, A: 17%, N: 8%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | SA: 83%, A: 17%, N: 0%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | SA: 50%, A: 43%, N: 0%, D: 7%, SD: 0% |
| The dentist responded to my concerns | N/A | N/A |
| SA: 67%, A: 25%, N: 8%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | ||
| The dentist explained what's going on with my child's teeth or mouth | N/A | N/A |
| SA: 58%, A: 25%, N: 17%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | ||
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| My child was given the same recommendations as if the dentist were here in person | N/A | The patient was given the same recommendations as if I were there in person |
| SA: 66%, A: 17%, N: 17%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | SA: 71%, A: 29%, N: 0%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | |
| N/A | I think still photos rather than video would have allowed the dentist to provide the same diagnosis | I think still photos rather than video would have allowed me to provide the same diagnosis |
| SA: 8%, A: 25%, N: 50%, D: 8%, SD: 8% | SA: 7%, A: 50%, N: 21%, D: 21%, SD: 0% | |
| N/A | N/A | I think the patient would have the same satisfaction if still photos rather than video were used |
| SA: 0%, A: 0%, N: 14%, D: 71%, SD: 14% | ||
| The doctor here at this patient care site could have managed my child's needs fine without getting the dentist on the computer | N/A | The intraoral camera gave me a view of the problem equivalent to if I were there in person |
| SA: 8%, A: 17%, N: 50%, D: 17%, SD: 8% | SA: 14%, A: 64%, N: 7%, D: 14%, SD: 0% | |
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| I would like this patient care site to keep offering this service to patients | I would like this patient care site to keep offering this service to other patients | I would like this medical location to keep offering this teledentistry service to other patients |
| SA: 92%, A: 8%, N: 0%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | SA: 58%, A: 42%, N: 0%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | SA: 79%, A: 21%, N: 0%, D: 0%, SD: 0% |
| Had I not had access to the dentist on the computer today, I would not know what to do for my child's problem | Had the dentist not been available, the care of this patient would have been compromised | N/A |
| SA: 67%, A: 25%, N: 8%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | SA: 8%, A: 17%, N: 42%, D: 33%, SD: 0% | |
| I would recommend the teledentistry process to a friend in a situation similar to mine | I would recommend teledentistry to my colleagues | N/A |
| SA: 75%, A: 25%, N: 0%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | SA: 58%, A: 42%, N: 0%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | |
| My insurance should cover this service | I think that teledentistry improves the quality of services provided at this patient care site | N/A |
| Yes: 75%, Maybe: 25%, No: 0% | SA: 67%, A: 33%, N: 0%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | |
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| I am satisfied with how long I got to talk to the dentist on the computer | It takes more than one staff member to use the teledentistry equipment | I think that I would be able to treat more patients using teledentistry |
| SA: 67%, A: 33%, N: 0%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | SA: 17%, A: 25%, N: 8%, D: 50%, SD: 0% | SA: 79%, A: 21%, N: 0%, D: 0%, SD: 0% |
| I am satisfied with how long I waited to talk to the dentist | The teledentistry consult took an appropriate amount of time | N/A |
| SA: 75%, A: 25%, N: 0%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | SA: 50%, A: 25%, N: 17%, D: 8%, SD: 0% | |
| Talking with the dentist on the computer today was worth the time that I saved in not having to go to Nationwide Children's main emergency department downtown | Talking with the dentist on the computer was a good use of the patient's time | N/A |
| SA: 50%, A: 17%, N: 33%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | SA: 75%, A: 25%, N: 0%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | |
| N/A | This consult method fits well into the “process or flow” of this patient care site | N/A |
| SA: 50%, A: 33%, N: 17%, D: 0%, SD: 0% | ||
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| In this location, I would prefer: | N/A | I would prefer to consult patients similar to this patient via teledentistry rather than in person |
| Dentist in person: 33%, No preference: 58%, Dentist on computer: 8% | SA: 43%, A: 43%, N: 7%, D: 7%, SD: 0% | |
| In this location, I would prefer: | N/A | N/A |
| Dentist on computer: 33%, No preference: 50%, No dentist available for today's visit: 17% | ||
| In this location, I would prefer: | N/A | N/A |
| Dentist on computer: 33%, No preference: 50%, Transfer to ED downtown: 17% | ||
VE, Very easy; E, Easy; N, Neutral; D, Difficult; VD, Very difficult; SA, Strongly agree; A, Agree; N, Neutral; D, Disagree; SD, Strongly disagree.
Comments from caregivers, medical personnel, and dentists.
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| • It was good and helpful for all the service | • For some reason the video from the wand with the covering was blurred. This may have been operator (me) error | • Some quick training of medical staff regarding how to retract the cheek, lip, or tongue when using the intraoral camera would be helpful |