Prospectives of Teledentistry for Professional Stakeholders of Health Professional Dental Education in Pakistan; A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the perceived barriers that dental professionals in Pakistan have to use teledentistry, as well as to measure awareness of teledentistry among dental students and dentists.Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study.Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Operative Dentistry, CMH-Lahore Medical College and Institute of Dentistry from September 2021 to December 2021.Material and Methods: During the course of about four months, a descriptive cross-sectional study of dental professionals and students was carried out throughout Pakistan. Dental professionals and dental students within the age range of 18-60 years were included in the study. Any dental practitioner not using a smartphone was excluded from the study.Results: A total of 428 dental students and professionals, with 222 (51.9%) undergraduate students, 127 (29.7%) house officers, 58 (13.6%) postgraduate trainees, and 21 (4.9%) specialists participated in the study. The overall mean knowledge and attitude scores were reported as 29.68 ± 4.24 and 32.55 ± 4.82, respectively. Although the study participants had satisfactory/good knowledge and a positive attitude towards teledentistry, they also believed that there are many challenges to face regarding the equipment and awareness.Conclusion: Conclusively, our study displays a good knowledge, attitude, and awareness regarding teledentistry along with its advantages and disadvantages among the dental community of Pakistan where the legislature is bringing public health services to the doorsteps of the general public by use of information and communication technology.