Mohamed Adel M, Ahmed Fatma, Gondi Khaled M, Salem Khaled A, Mohammed Omar B, Peeran Syed Wali
Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Sebha University, Sebha, LBY.
Faculty of Dentistry, Sebha University, Sebha, LBY.
Cureus. 2024 Apr 15;16(4):e58330. doi: 10.7759/cureus.58330. eCollection 2024 Apr.
Background Teledentistry, a subspecialty of telemedicine dedicated to dentistry, has shown promise in improving access to dental care, particularly in rural and isolated areas. It integrates digital and telecommunication technology with dentistry, allowing for the remote distance exchange of relevant clinical information and digital dental imaging for dental consultation and treatment planning. Periodontal disease diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and prevention of irreversible loss of periodontal structures. Early identification of periodontal disease can be pivotal in preventing periodontal tissue destruction and tooth loss and improving the overall quality of patients' lives. Sebha is a city located in the Fezzan region of southwestern Libya. It is the capital of the Sabha District and the Sabha Governorate. The city is situated in the Libyan part of the Sahara desert and is known for its strategic location as a gateway to the Sahara desert. However, there is a lack of information on the use of teledentistry in Libya in general and the use of teleperiodontics, especially in periodontal diagnosis. Hence, the aim of this questionnaire study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practice of teledentistry among dental interns at Sebha, Libya. Materials and methods A paper-based questionnaire consisting of 28 close‑ended Likert scale questions, including sections assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice of teledentistry and teleperiodontics, was administered to dental interns at the Faculty of Dentistry, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya. Results The study surveyed 42 dental interns of the Faculty of Sebha, Libya, in total, with an 82.35% response rate among them. The majority of participants (59.5%) felt that teledentistry is reliable in arriving at periodontal diagnosis. The majority of participants (64.3%%) also had acceptable levels of trust in teledentistry equipment. However, over 45% percent of dental practitioners voiced their worries about patient privacy. Most of the participants suggested using teledentistry in some form in their future practice. Conclusion Teledentistry and its branch teleperiodontics are recent developments and its penetration among dental healthcare workers, and their knowledge, attitude, and practice remain to be thoroughly understood. The changing trends in attitudes and practice as a consequence of changes in Internet and technological awareness and the effects of the pandemic warrant closer observation and study.
背景 远程牙科是远程医疗的一个子专业，专注于牙科领域，在改善牙科护理的可及性方面已展现出前景，尤其是在农村和偏远地区。它将数字和通信技术与牙科相结合，实现相关临床信息和数字牙科影像的远程交换，用于牙科咨询和治疗规划。牙周疾病的诊断对于有效治疗以及预防牙周结构的不可逆丧失至关重要。早期识别牙周疾病对于预防牙周组织破坏和牙齿脱落以及提高患者的整体生活质量可能起着关键作用。塞卜哈是位于利比亚西南部费赞地区的一座城市。它是塞卜哈区和塞卜哈省的首府。这座城市位于撒哈拉沙漠的利比亚部分，因其作为撒哈拉沙漠门户的战略位置而闻名。然而，总体而言，关于利比亚远程牙科的使用情况，尤其是远程牙周病学的使用情况，特别是在牙周诊断方面，缺乏相关信息。因此，这项问卷调查研究的目的是评估利比亚塞卜哈的牙科实习生对远程牙科的知识、态度和实践情况。材料与方法 向利比亚塞卜哈大学牙科学院的牙科实习生发放了一份纸质问卷，问卷由28个封闭式李克特量表问题组成，包括评估远程牙科和远程牙周病学的知识、态度和实践情况的部分。结果 该研究总共调查了利比亚塞卜哈大学牙科学院的42名牙科实习生，其中回复率为82.35%。大多数参与者（59.5%）认为远程牙科在进行牙周诊断方面是可靠的。大多数参与者（64.3%）对远程牙科设备也有可接受程度的信任。然而，超过45%的牙科从业者表达了他们对患者隐私的担忧。大多数参与者建议在未来的实践中以某种形式使用远程牙科。结论 远程牙科及其分支远程牙周病学是最近的发展成果，其在牙科医护人员中的渗透情况以及他们的知识、态度和实践情况仍有待深入了解。由于互联网和技术认知的变化以及疫情的影响而导致的态度和实践的变化趋势值得密切观察和研究。
