Masongo Chipampe, Daire Judith, Estai Mohamed, Gebauer Dieter, Smith Leon, Chih HuiJun
Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia.
School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
Healthcare (Basel). 2024 Oct 19;12(20):2086. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12202086.
Patient demand for oral and maxillofacial telehealth services increased during COVID-19. To explore the potential for their continued use post-COVID-19, an assessment was conducted by examining the association between the clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of consultants and the perceived facilitators and barriers influencing their future intent.
Practicing oral and maxillofacial consultants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling methods. Data were collected through surveys and key informant interviews. Chi-square tests were used to determine whether consultants' clinical and socio-demographic characteristics and perceptions were associated with a willingness to use telehealth in the future. Coded interview transcripts were analyzed thematically to identify the main themes influencing their willingness.
Among the 42 respondents, 82% expressed a willingness to continue using telehealth services with the majority having at least 2 to 3 years ( = 0.028) of experience utilizing these services. The four main themes impacting consultants willingness include the accessibility of oral and maxillofacial healthcare, challenges addressing patient needs, the uncertainty of diagnostic accuracy and effectiveness as a post-operation observation tool.
Most oral and maxillofacial consultants favored the routine use of telehealth services beyond COVID-19. Concern for patients' needs was a key determinant of their continued use. Co-designing strategies to eliminate barriers and unmet needs for consultants and patients may improve oral and maxillofacial telehealth uptake.
在新冠疫情期间，患者对口腔颌面远程医疗服务的需求有所增加。为了探索新冠疫情后继续使用这些服务的可能性，通过研究会诊医生的临床和社会人口学特征与影响其未来使用意愿的感知促进因素和障碍之间的关联进行了一项评估。
通过目的抽样和滚雪球抽样方法招募执业口腔颌面会诊医生。通过调查和关键信息人访谈收集数据。使用卡方检验来确定会诊医生的临床和社会人口学特征及看法是否与未来使用远程医疗的意愿相关。对编码后的访谈记录进行主题分析，以确定影响其意愿的主要主题。
在42名受访者中，82%表示愿意继续使用远程医疗服务，大多数人有至少2至3年（=0.028）使用这些服务的经验。影响会诊医生意愿的四个主要主题包括口腔颌面医疗保健的可及性、满足患者需求的挑战、诊断准确性的不确定性以及作为术后观察工具的有效性。
大多数口腔颌面会诊医生赞成在新冠疫情之后常规使用远程医疗服务。对患者需求的关注是他们继续使用的关键决定因素。共同设计消除会诊医生和患者障碍及未满足需求的策略，可能会提高口腔颌面远程医疗的使用率。
