Application of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model to predict dental students' behavioral intention to use teledentistry.

Teledentistry is an innovative technology that can be used to improve access to care and oral health outcomes. Dental students' intention to use teledentistry after completing dental school has not been investigated. PURPOSE: The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) was used to predict intentions to use teledentistry among 4th-year U.S. dental students. METHODS: A cross-sectional approach was performed for a 7-week period in Spring 2019. All U.S. dental schools (N = 66) were invited to participate and 16 schools agreed to participate. An anonymous survey link was emailed to academic deans for dissemination to students. A total of 1416 4th-year dental students received the anonymous survey link and 210 students completed the survey (response rate = 14.8%). The survey included questions and scales that measured the UTAUT constructs of performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI), facilitating conditions (FC), and behavioral intentions (BI). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24. The study was deemed exempt by institutional review board. RESULTS: The dental students' BI to use teledentistry was significantly predicted by PE (R2 = 33%, P < 0.01), EE (R2 = 24%, P < 0.01), SI (R2 = 24%, P < 0.01), and FC (R2 = 14%, P < 0.01). The UTAUT model was statistically significant in predicting the BI and explained 40% of BI variance (R2 = .40, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Dental students' perceptions about PE, EE, SI, and FC were associated with BI. Therefore, exposure to teledentistry while in dental school could increase the likelihood of use as a practicing provider.

A Systematic Review on the Validity of Teledentistry.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the validity of using teledentistry in oral care examination and diagnosis. METHODS: In June 2016, a systematic search of the literature was conducted without time restrictions in three electronic databases (Ebscohost, Pubmed, and Scopus). Two reviewers screened the retrieved articles first by title and then by abstract to determine relevant articles for full text review. Studies included were as follows: (1) related to teledentistry, (2) available in full text and English, (3) compared teledentistry application to a gold standard, and (4) provided clear statistical tests for validity. The methodological quality of studies was determined using the "Quality Assessment of Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy (QUADAS)." RESULTS: Seventy-nine studies met the initial search criteria. Following removal of duplicate articles, only 58 were remaining and reviewed by title and abstract, yielding 14 full-text articles. Nine of the full-text articles met the inclusion criteria. Results of the QUADAS assessment varied from 9 to 13 out of 14 items; therefore, studies demonstrated high quality (>60%). Validity of teledentistry varied and is reported by range for the following statistics: sensitivity (n = 8, 25-100%), specificity (n = 7, 68-100%), positive predictive value (n = 5, 57-100%), and negative predictive value (n = 5, 50-100%). Kappa statistics were also reported for evaluation of reliability between gold standard and teledentistry examination (n = 6, 46-93%). CONCLUSIONS: Teledentistry could be comparable to face-to-face for oral screening, especially in school-based programs, rural areas and areas with limited access to care, and long-term care facilities. Identification of oral diseases, referrals, and teleconsultations are possible and valid. The need for methodologically designed studies with appropriate statistical tests to determine the validity of teledentistry exists.

Teledentistry: a key component in access to care.

UNLABELLED: Teledentistry has the potential to address the oral care needs of those who have limited access to care. More research is needed to establish the evidence base to support teledentistry practice. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Enormous potential exists to improve oral health services throughout the world by using information and communication technologies, such as teledentistry to expand access to primary, secondary and tertiary care. Comparison of teledentistry procedures with standard clinical procedures can demonstrate the relative effectiveness and cost of each approach. However, due to insufficient evidence, it is unclear how these strategies compare for improving and maintaining oral health, quality of life, and reducing health care costs. This review discusses the merits of teledentistry for the delivery of oral care. METHODS: This article summarizes the available literature related to the efficacy and effectiveness of teledentistry and presents possible barriers to its broader adoption. CONCLUSIONS: Teledentistry seems to be a promising path for providing oral health services where there is a shortage of oral health care providers.

Teledentistry: a systematic review of clinical outcomes, utilization and costs.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review is to identify clinical outcomes, health care utilization and costs associated with teledentistry. Relevant databases were searched for articles on teledentistry published until March 2012, reference lists examined and key journals hand searched. Of a possible 58 articles, 19 studies met the inclusion criteria. Clinical outcomes were generally improved following a teledentistry intervention and satisfaction with teledentistry was consistently high. The few studies examining health care utilization reported mixed findings, but preliminary evidence suggests cost savings for health care facilities. There is a consistent trend in the literature supporting the efficacy and effectiveness of teledentistry. Further research is needed to identify the effectiveness, efficiency, utilization and costs of teledentistry as it could provide the key to improving access to care.