Teledentistry Knowledge and Attitudes: Perspectives on the role of dental hygienists

Jane A. Weintraub; Leiana R. Edwards; Jennifer L. Brame; Lewis Lampris; B. Alex White; Reuben Adatorwovor; N. Shaun Matthews

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Abstract

Purpose. The first statewide teledentistry (TD) Summit in North Carolina (NC) was convened by the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill in 2018. The purpose of this analysis is to compare Summit participants' understanding of TD, its benefits, challenges, solutions and the role of dental hygienists, pre- and post-Summit.

Methods. Summit invitees included leaders in related policy, education, advocacy, legislation, technology and UNC dental hygiene and dental students. Descriptive analyses and exact McNemar's matched pair tests compared proportions of participants' responses to pre- and post-Summit surveys.

Results. Response rates were pre-Summit 75.3% (n= 58) and post-Summit 70.1% (n= 47); matched pre-post survey pairs (n=42). Pre-Summit respondents reported their primary role in administration (48.0%), teaching and mentoring (21.0%), patient care (12.0%) or as a student (19.0%). Among respondents, overall self-reported TD knowledge increased from 38.1% to 92.9%, p< 0.001. Their reported extent TD should be developed in NC increased from 78.6% to 95.2%, p = 0.07; the extent hygienists should have a role in TD services increased from 83.3% to 88.1%, p = 0.73. The most frequently mentioned challenge was state practice acts requiring direct supervision of dental hygienists, limiting their TD use in community settings, which increased in the pre- to post-surveys from 33.3% to 59.5% respectively, p = 0.01.

Conclusion. Among attendees at the statewide TD Summit, self-reported knowledge was high and attitudes favorable for moving forward with TD in NC. However, state dental practice act barriers restricting dental hygienist participation in TD was the first challenge respondents thought needed to be addressed.

Footnotes

Jane A. Weintraub, DDS, MPH is the Rozier Douglass Distinguished Professor in Dental Public Health, Division of Pediatric and Public Health, Adams School of Dentistry and Gillings School of Global Public Health; Leiana R. Edwards, BS was the Operations Supervisor of the Office of Teledentistry, Office of the Dean, Adams School of Dentistry; Jennifer L. Brame, RDH, MS is an associate professor and the Director of the Graduate Dental Hygiene Education and Dental Hygiene Programs, Division of Comprehensive Oral Health, Adams School of Dentistry; Lewis Lampiris DDS, MPH was an associate professor and the Assistant Dean for Community Engagement and Outreach, Division of Pediatric and Public Health, Adams School of Dentistry; B. Alex White DDS, DrPH is an associate professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, Adams School of Dentistry and Gillings School of Global Public Health; Reuben Adatorwovor, PhD is an assistant professor, Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, the University of Kentucky and formerly a doctoral student in the Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health; N. Shaun Matthews DDS, MD is an associate professor and the Director of Telehealth, Division of Craniofacial and Surgical Care, Adams School of Dentistry; all at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
This manuscript supports the NDHRA priority area Population level: Access to care (vulnerable populations and interventions).
Disclosure
The following organizations provided sources of support for the Summit: BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Foundation, The Duke Endowment, Delta Dental of North Carolina, the North Carolina Dental Society, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry, Office of the Dean. The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this paper.