Teledentistry Awareness and Knowledge Among Dental Practitioners and Patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Figures & data

Figure 1 Demographic information on the participants covered (a) Age Category Groups, (b) Gender, (c) Nationality, (d) Qualification Type, (e) Place of Practicing, and (f) Saudi Dental Licensure.

Table 1 Confidentiality, Securities, and Effectiveness Issues in Teledentistry

Concerns about confidentiality and security issues in Teledentistry
	V.C.(%)	L.C.(%)	N(%)	N.P.(%)	N.C.(%)
Gaining patient consent for teleconsultation	23(11.3)	32(15.8)	65(32)	40(19.7)	43(21.2)
Confidentiality when data are sent online	33(16.3)	59(29.1)	52(25.6)	34(16.7)	25(12.3)
Reliability of Teledental equipment	57(28.1)	59(29.1)	50(24.6)	23(11.3)	14(6.9)
Concerns about system effectiveness issues in Teledentistry
	S.A.(%)	A(%)	N(%)	D(%)	S.D.(%)
Teledentistry would provide accurate diagnosis in a clinical setting	8(3.9)	20(9.9)	47(23.2)	77(37.9)	51(25.1)
Teledentistry would help shorten the waiting list	33(16.3)	80(39.4)	44(21.7)	31(15.3)	15(7.4)
Teledentistry would enhance guidelines and advice	51(25.1)	89(43.8)	48(23.6)	10(4.9)	5(2.5)
Teledentistry would improve the interaction between peers	43(21.2)	85(41.9)	58(28.6)	9(4.4)	8(3.9)
Teledentistry would make patient referral more efficient	47(23.2)	78(38.4)	49(24.1)	17(8.4)	12(5.9)

Note: Adapted from Al-Khalifa KS, AlSheikh R, Denis F. Teledentistry awareness among dental professionals in Saudi Arabia. PLoS One. 2020;15(10):e0240825. Creative Commons.¹³

Abbreviations: VC, Very Concerned; LC, Little Concerned; N, Not feeling either way; NP, Not Particularly Concerned; NC, Not Concerned at all; SA, Strongly Agree; A, Agree; N, Neutral; D, Disagree; SD, Strongly Disagree.

Table 2 Teledentistry System Usefulness for Dental Practices for Practitioners and Patients

Teledentistry system usefulness for dental practitioners
	S.A.(%)	A(%)	N(%)	D(%)	S.D.(%)
Teledentistry would enhance clinical training and continuing education.	23(11.3)	54(26.6)	61(30.0)	50(24.6)	15(7.4)
Teledentistry would reduce costs for dental practices.	27(13.3)	76(37.4)	52(25.6)	35(17.2)	13(6.4)
Teledentistry would increase treatment time spent with the patient	17(8.4)	48(23.6)	74(36.5)	53(26.1)	11(5.4)
Teledentistry would necessitate an extra appointment for taking photographs.	36(17.7)	83(40.9)	65(32.0)	14(6.9)	5(2.5)
Teledentistry would save time compared with a referral letter.	29(14.3)	93(45.8)	65(32.0)	8(3.9)	8(3.9)
Teledentistry would be too expensive to set up	22(10.8)	40(19.7)	63(31.0)	61(30.0)	17(8.4)
Teledentistry would provide adequate diagnostic information.	9(4.4)	33(16.3)	59(29.1)	64(31.5)	38(18.7)
Teledentistry system usefulness for dental patients
	S.A.(%)	A(%)	N (%)	D (%)	S.D.(%)
Teledentistry would save money for patients.	24(11.8)	91(44.8)	61(30.0)	20(9.9)	7(3.4)
Teledentistry would improve communication with patients.	30(14.8)	88(43.3)	54(26.6)	23(11.3)	8(3.9)
Teledentistry would be helpful for patient education.	74(36.5)	83(40.9)	35(17.2)	8(3.9)	3(1.5)
Teledentistry would help to avoid unnecessary travel to the Dental clinic.	58(28.6)	82(40.4)	38(18.7)	15(7.4)	10(4.9)
Teledentistry would help to avoid unnecessary travel to the Dental clinic.	58(28.6)	82(40.4)	38(18.7)	15(7.4)	10(4.9)
Teledentistry would be useful for patients in remote areas.	73(36.0)	75(36.9)	34(16.7)	13(6.4)	8(3.9)
Teledentistry should be covered by dental insurance plans	49(24.1)	72(35.5)	58(28.6)	13(6.4)	11(5.4)

Note: Adapted from Al-Khalifa KS, AlSheikh R, Denis F. Teledentistry awareness among dental professionals in Saudi Arabia. PLoS One. 2020;15(10):e0240825Creative Commons.¹³

Abbreviations: SA, Strongly Agree; A, Agree; N, Neutral; D, Disagree; SD, Strongly Disagree.

Table 3 The Chi-Square Test Results for Dentalcare Providers

Concerns About Confidentiality and Security Issues in Teledentistry
Questions	Gender	Age	Nationality	Qualification
Gaining patient consent for teleconsultation	0.081	0.234	0.844	0.080
Confidentiality when data are sent online	0.008	0.347	0.984	0.768
Reliability of teledental equipment.	0.018	0.074	0.999	0.844
Teledentistry System Effectiveness To Improve Practice
Questions	Gender	Age	Nationality	Qualification
Teledentistry would provide accurate diagnosis in a clinical setting	0.023	0.001	0.043	0.026
Teledentistry would help shorten the waiting list	0.165	0.254	0.688	0.197
Teledentistry would enhance guidelines and advice	0.6888	0.408	0.568	0.479
Teledentistry would improve the interaction between peers	0.340	0.663	0.700	0.593
Teledentistry would make patient’s referral more efficient	0.078	0.069	0.266	0.094
Teledentistry System Usefulness For Dental Practice
Questions	Gender	Age	Nationality	Qualification
Teledentistry would enhance clinical training and continuing education.	0.003	0.764	0.215	0.082
Teledentistry would reduce costs for the dental practices.	0.049	0.336	0.371	0.223
Teledentistry would increase treatment time spent with the patient	0.061	0.079	0.537	0.197
Teledentistry would necessitate an extra appointment for taking photographs.	0.748	0.478	0.075	0.260
Teledentistry would save time compared with a referral letter.	0.003	0.000	0.984	0.127
Teledentistry would be too expensive to set up	0.568	0.237	0.678	0.611
Teledentistry would provide adequate diagnostic information.	0.027	0.553	0.240	0.445
Teledentistry System Usefulness For Patients
Questions	Gender	Age	Nationality	Qualification
Teledentistry would save money for patients.	0.121	0.146	0.120	0.301
Teledentistry would improve communication with patients.	0.344	0.214	0.582	0.538
Teledentistry would be helpful patient education.	0.535	0.426	0.762	0.420
Teledentistry would help to avoid unnecessary travel to Dental clinic.	0.190	0.073	0.092	0.312
Teledentistry would be helpful in monitoring the patient’s condition	0.697	0.872	0.812	0.992
Teledentistry would be useful for patients in remote areas.	0.127	0.833	0.605	0.292
Teledentistry should be covered by dental insurance plans	0.220	0.605	0.038	0.441

Notes: Adapted from Al-Khalifa KS, AlSheikh R, Denis F. Teledentistry awareness among dental professionals in Saudi Arabia. PLoS One. 2020;15(10):e0240825. Creative Commons.¹³ The Chi-Square Test used a p-value of 0.05 for statistical significance.

Figure 2 Demographic characteristics of patients respondents covered (a) patients who have and have not used teledentistry before by age groups and (b) patients who have and have not used teledentistry before by gender.

Table 4 Patients Who Have and Have Not Been Treated Through Teledentistry

Patients who have NOT been treated Through Teledentistry
	S.A.(%)	A(%)	N (%)	D (%)	S.D.(%)
Teledentistry will help in easy access to healthcare for rural patients.	88(32.6)	122(45.2)	28(10.4)	24(8.9)	8(3)
It will save travel time and money in obtaining an expert opinion.	102(37.8)	155(42.6)	26(9.6)	22(8.1)	5(1.9)
It will benefit only the urban community.	26(9.6)	63(23.3)	63(23.3)	93(34.4)	25(9.3)
I would feel comfortable being treated by Teledentistry.	26(9.6)	61(22.6)	90(33.3)	67(24.8)	26(9.6)
Teledentistry can never replace face-to-face consultation	88(32.6)	80(29.6)	60(22.2)	34(12.6)	8(3)
I could not rely on a consultation via Teledentistry.	28(10.4)	47(17.4)	80(29.6)	94(34.8)	21(7.8)
I will accept Teledentistry only after seeing reports of patients being treated by it.	29(10.7)	144(42.2)	70(25.9)	44(16.3)	13(4.8)
I will use Teledentistry if it is available in the hospital near my town	32(11.9)	94(34.8)	73(27)	59(21.9)	12(4.4)
Teledentistry should be implemented in all hospitals	60(22.2)	104(38.5)	55(20.4)	35(13)	16(5.9)
Patients who have been treated Through Teledentistry
	S.A.(%)	A(%)	N (%)	D (%)	S.D.(%)
Teledentistry sessions are satisfactory.	11(28.2)	17(43.6)	9(23.1)	1(2.6)	1(2.6)
Interaction with distant providers was easy.	14(35.9)	17(43.6)	7(17.9)	1(2.6)	0
Teledentistry helped to save time.	19(48.7)	13(33.3)	3(7.7)	4(10.31)	0
Teledentistry helped to save money.	14(35.9)	16(41)	9(23.1)	0	0
Teledentistry prevented the problem from becoming worse.	10(25.6)	14(35.9)	9(23.1)	4(10.3)	2(5.1)
The distant provider’s understanding of my health problem did not satisfy me.	4(10.3)	5(12.8)	11(28.2)	13(33.3)	6(15.4)
The Teledentistry session made me tense.	2(5.1)	4(10.3)	13(33.3)	12(30.8)	8(20.5)
Teledentistry made care easily accessible.	13(33.3)	14(35.9)	7(17.9)	5(12.8)	0
A Teledentistry session is as good as a face-to-face session.	5(12.8)	3(7.7)	18(46.2)	9(23.1)	4(10.3)
I feel comfortable with consultations by Teledentistry.	10(25.6)	17(43.6)	9(23.1)	2(5.1)	1(2.6)
I feel comfortable with treatment by Teledentistry.	8(20.5)	15(38.5)	9(23.1)	7(17.9)	0
I will use Teledentistry again.	13(33.3)	14(35.9)	9(23.1)	2(5.1)	1(2.6)

Note: Adapted from Meher SK, Tyagi RS, Chaudhry T. Awareness and attitudes to Telemedicine among doctors and patients in India. J Telemed Telecare. 2009;15(3):139-141.© 2009 Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited.¹⁶

Abbreviations: SA, Strongly Agree; A, Agree; N, Neutral; D, Disagree; SD, Strongly Disagree.

Table 5 The Chi-Square Test Results for Patients

Patients who have used Teledentistry
Questions	Gender	Age
Teledentistry sessions are satisfactory	0.799	0.851
Interaction with the distant providers was easy	0.140	0.584
Teledentistry helped to save time	0.543	0.745
Teledentistry helped to save money	0.468	0.597
Teledentistry prevented the problem from becoming worse.	0.811	0.178
The distant provider’s understanding of my health problem did not satisfy me.	0.380	0.461
The Teledentistry session made me tense.	0.088	0.521
Teledentistry made care easily accessible	0.970	0.013
A teledentistry session is as good as a face-to-face session	0.272	0.102
I feel comfortable about consultations by Teledentistry.	0.265	0.474
I feel comfortable about treatment by Teledentistry	0.487	0.334
I will use Teledentistry again	0.747	0.688
Patients who have NOT used Teledentistry
Questions	Gender	Age
Teledentistry will help in easy access to health care for rural patients.	0.108	0.107
It will save traveling time and money for obtaining an expert opinion	0.323	0.018
It will benefit only the urban community.	0.850	0.407
I would feel comfortable in being treated by Teledentistry	0.281	0.198
Teledentistry can never replace face-to-face consultation	0.082	0.869
I could not rely on a consultation via Teledentistry.	0.702	0.398
I will accept Teledentistry only after seeing reports of patients being treated by it.	0.901	0.296
I will use Teledentistry if it is available in the hospital near my town	0.986	0.786
Teledentistry should be implemented in all hospitals	0.800	0.607

Notes: Adapted from Meher SK, Tyagi RS, Chaudhry T. Awareness and attitudes to Telemedicine among doctors and patients in India. J Telemed Telecare. 2009;15(3):139-141.© 2009 Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited.¹⁶ The Chi-Square Test used a p-value of 0.05 for statistical significance.

Al-Khalifa KS, AlSheikh R, Denis F. Teledentistry awareness among dental professionals in Saudi Arabia. PLoS One. 2020;15(10):e0240825. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0240825

 PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Meher SK, Tyagi RS, Chaudhry T. Awareness and attitudes to Telemedicine among doctors and patients in India. J Telemed Telecare. 2009;15(3):139–141. doi:10.1258/jtt.2009.003011

 PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar