Philippine E-Journals

Patient Expectations on Teledentistry in the New Normal

John Isaiah Balani | Dyan Cheska Abrenica | Camille Joy M. Angciangco | John Jearome B. Alvarez | Tiffany Villanueva

Discipline: Dentistry

 

Abstract:

Teledentisry is defined as the utilization of telecommunications or information technology in conjunction to the practice of dentistry with some articles calling it virtual dentistry. This system involves dental consultation and treatment planning via remote exchange of clinical information and photographs, and remote communication between the patient and the practitioner. With the emergence of the New Normal protocols, brought by the Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, various health care providers opted for online or virtual communications with their respective patients, nothing the convenience and safety of the program while abiding by the protocols given by the country. While the threat of the COVID virus has subsided due to the response of the government and the purpose of this study is to determine the expectations of the patients about the program of Teledentistry, and its use in the new normal and how they expect it to be convenient and efficient with the management of their oral health. The study was conducted by distributing an adapted and modified questionnaire to 100 respondents, who were dental patients in Batangas City. The survey questionnaire consisted of two parts, the first part determined the respondents' profile, and the second part included the expectations of the patients with the different aspects of Teledentistry. The results were analyzed using a frequency count in the first part, and the second part was evaluated using a weighted mean for the expectations. The results of the study showed that majority of the respondents have good expectations with Teledentistry. Most of the patients stated that they are comfortable telling the dentists about their illness, and that they are confident that the dental practitioner will value their privacy. Further, the respondents agreed that the program will be more convenient and can save travel time by the elimination of unnecessary clinical visits and that Teledentistry can help their cost reduction. A few reservations on Teledentistry were also determined, such as some respondents were worried that the diagnostic information may be compromised with inaccuracy, and that results of various tests cannot be relayed as precisely as traditional clinical consultations can. Due to these reservations, this research study established a proposed plan of action that can be helpful and utilized to improve the expectations of the patients in Teledentistry.