Attitudes and opinions of telehealth in the dental school environment: A survey study.

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to assess provider attitudes and opinions regarding telehealth in the dental school environment.

METHOD

A survey was developed and validated and was sent to 849 predoctoral students, postdoctoral students (residents), and faculty at a single dental school. It consisted of 13 questions regarding the participants' professional backgrounds, opinions, and attitudes toward telehealth. The survey opened on November 16, 2021, and remained open for 6 weeks.

RESULTS

Of 849 survey recipients, 163 (19%) responded. Among 161 usable surveys, 90 (56%) were predoctoral students, 42 (26%) were postdoctoral students, and 29 (18%) were faculty. Fifty-four percent reported having completed at least one telehealth visit. Among this subset, 80% strongly agreed or agreed that telehealth is a good adjunct in providing care; 74% strongly agreed or agreed that telehealth has improved communication with patients.

CONCLUSION

Most dental providers reported positive opinions and attitudes regarding telehealth's ability to improve communication and serve as an adjunct to providing care.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

In the right circumstances, telehealth offers an alternative to traditional oral healthcare delivery methods. Based on the perceptions of dental providers, the use of telehealth may also be beneficial in combination with traditional approaches in the dental school environment.