USING QR CODES IN DENTAL PRACTICE

Abstract

Quick response (QR) codes are two-dimensional barcodes that are used to encode and decode information. QR codes can have a wide range of application in various aspects of dentistry. They can be used as a tool in dental education, product promotion and practice management. By scanning the QR code, the dentist can access clinical information and diagnosis support by ease in access to online medical and dental textbooks, trust-approved videos, professional guidelines, drug references and dental materials’ information and instructions. This study analyses dentists’ and patients’ perceptions of effectiveness of using QR codes in everyday dentist's practice. The study was conducted over a 3-month period in 2018 among 4 dentists and 46 of their patients. QR codes were placed near dental products, materials or instruments within the workplace. The dentists used QR codes to link to short videos that are helpful in tips for successful completion of the dental treatment with specific new instruments and common errors thus to contribute to patient safety. Furthermore they were used to show patients beforehand the various procedures and their sequence that are needed for successful treatment. With the aim to take advantage of the time that patients pay to their mobile devices while waiting in the dentist's office, QR codes were also put up in the waiting rooms aiming to increase patient knowledge regarding recent innovations and new technologies in dentistry. Two types of questionnaires completed respectively by dentists and patients, were used for qualitative data collection. Results doubtlessly demonstrate the positive attitude toward using QR codes in everyday dentist's practice and the confidence that QR codes are the cheapest way to attract patients’ attention to the latest innovations in dentistry.