SYNCHRONOUS TELECONSULTATION IN ORAL MEDICINE

Abstract

Objective: To assess the feasibility and accuracy of synchronous teleconsultation in oral medicine. Study Design: Individuals referred for specialized care due to oral lesions were evaluated in person by a general dentist who took photographs of the lesions with a smartphone. The images were sent through WhatsApp application to an oral medicine specialist, with whom a video call was initiated on the same instant messaging application. After interviewing the patient, the specialist gave a diagnostic hypothesis and suggestions for conduct. After the call ended, a second specialist, blinded to the first evaluation, assessed the oral lesion in person and suggested a diagnostic hypothesis. Results: Twenty-eight individuals, from 25 to 83 years old, presented with 32 lesions. Most participants (57%) used buses to get to the consultation and 32% of the sample was not from the city where the study was conducted. The average teleconsultation length was 11 minutes. The most frequent hypothesis was non-neoplastic proliferative processes (32%). In 81% of the cases, there was concordance between specialists regarding diagnostic hypotheses, reaching an almost perfect agreement (κ = 0.835). Conclusion: Synchronous teleconsultation can increase and accelerate diagnosis through the support of health professionals from primary care in oral lesions management.