Analysis of the asynchronous dental teleconsulting of Telehealth Brazil Networks in Minas Gerais.

Lígia Cristelli Paixão,Antônio Paulino Ribeiro Sobrinho,Efigênia Ferreira E Ferreira,Renata De Castro Martins,Vanessa Andrade Costa

doi:10.1590/1807-3107bor-2018.vol32.0128

Lígia Cristelli Paixão, Antônio Paulino Ribeiro Sobrinho + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-3107bor-2018.vol32.0128

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Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the asynchronous dental teleconsulting of Telehealth Brazil Networks Program in Minas Gerais. Data were collected from secondary databases of the Clinical Hospital of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (CH/UFMG) and Medical School of UFMG (MS/UFMG), from July 2015 to July 2017. The variables analyzed were telehealth center, sex and profession, date and time questions and answers, response time in days, whether the issue was duly addressed, whether the teleconsulting was attended, post status, professional's satisfaction, conduct adopted after teleconsulting, dental specialty area, and type of issues. Sociodemographic data from the Intermediate Geographical Regions (IGR) of Minas Gerais, including the Municipal Human Development Index (MHDI) and Gini Index were also collected. The results were analyzed using SPSS v.22.0. In total, 3,920 teleconsulting were recorded, with increasing demand in the study period. Most were requested by dentists (93.3%) and female professionals (78.6%), during office hours (78.6%), and related to general conducts (72.1%). Almost all were attended (99.7%), with a maximum response time of two days (75.0%). A low feedback on satisfaction and resolution of issues (missing data of 57.2% and 70.2%, respectively) was recorded. Only 5.2% had information on whether patients were referred. The most common inquires were of issues about Pathology/Stomatology specialties (19.0%) and Pharmacology/Anesthesiology (18.8%). The response occurred within the expected time, with prevalent issues in basic dental areas and general conducts. Feedback from professionals must be encouraged to allow a better analysis and improvements of the program.

Highlights

Telehealth is the long-distance exchange of information related to healthcare and health education through information and communication technologies that allow people with little or no access to care to have their needs met by specialty professionals
Data were extracted from asynchronous dentistry teleconsulting services, collecting the variables telehealth center (CH-UFMG or MS-UFMG), sex and profession, date and time of the question and answer, response time in days, whether the issue was resolved, whether teleconsulting was attended, post status, professional satisfaction, conduct adopted, dentistry specialty, and type of issue
The initial sample consisted of 4,093 teleconsulting sessions from the databases of the CH-UFMG and MS-UFMG centers

Summary

Introduction

Telehealth is the long-distance exchange of information related to healthcare and health education through information and communication technologies that allow people with little or no access to care to have their needs met by specialty professionals. It includes the establishment of disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, besides being a powerful tool for the continuing education of general practitioners (GPs).[1]. Teledentistry has growing applications in dentistry, increasing access and improving health services.[1] It is is used in several countries and spheres of care and is being considered a valid and feasible means of diagnosis compared to traditional ones[8]. The validity of teledentistry in dental specialties requires further research.[8]

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