Remote clinical consultations in restorative dentistry—A survey

: To assess the patient experience of Remote Clinical Consultations (RCCs) for head and neck cancer and cleft lip and palate patients undergoing specialist restorative dentistry treatment in the context of a secondary care service. : An online survey was designed; all ninety three patients were invi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of dentistry 2022-02, Vol.117, p.103914-103914, Article 103914
Main Authors: Gleeson, H.B., Kalsi, A.S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation
Carbon dioxide
Cleft Lip
Cleft lip/palate
Cleft Palate
Communication
Coronaviruses
Costs
COVID
COVID-19
Dental care
Dentistry
Disease transmission
Emissions
Head & neck cancer
Health care access
Hospitals
Humans
Orthodontics
Pandemics
Patient experience
Patients
Primary care
Questionnaire
Remote clinical consultations
Remote Consultation
Restorative dentistry
SARS-CoV-2
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Surgery
Tele-dentistry
Travel
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Summary:: To assess the patient experience of Remote Clinical Consultations (RCCs) for head and neck cancer and cleft lip and palate patients undergoing specialist restorative dentistry treatment in the context of a secondary care service. : An online survey was designed; all ninety three patients were invited to participate in its completion following a video or telephone remote clinical consultation with one restorative consultant in Addenbrooke's Hospital between August 2020 and April 2021. The video consultations were carried out via NHS England's Attend Anywhere platform. : Sixty three responses were received. Over 70% of patients valued a video or telephone remote clinical consultation rather than an in-person attendance. Patients reported a good experience and would recommend a remote clinical consultation instead of an in-person attendance if no treatment would likely be required. Those who were less likely to recommend a remote clinical consultation were those who had difficulties logging-in to the remote platform or had technical issues. : While a number of patients still would have preferred a face-to-face attendance, both telephone and video remote consultations were highly valued by patients, and the overall patient experience was that of acceptance. Benefits of remote consultations perceived by patients included having set time to discuss concerns and queries, becoming familiar with a clinician prior to any treatment, saving time, minimising travel and reducing expenses. Barriers to a positive experience included technical difficulties. This survey contributes to the evidence supporting remote clinical consultations as a practical way of delivering specialist consultations in restorative dentistry, it highlights this virtual process largely relates to the practicalities of service provision and highlights the use of remote consultations for specific appointments. This study demonstrates patient feedback to a strategy implemented due to adaptations in working methods required as result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Patients were found to have a positive, accepting experience of both telephone and video remote clinical consultations. the study identifies a high patient acceptability and ability to overcome some of the disadvantages of an in-person attendance including saving time, travel and associated expenses while also contributing to a reduction in CO2 emissions and potentially improving clinical efficiency and capacity. These findings add to existing
ISSN:0300-5712
1879-176X
DOI:10.1016/j.jdent.2021.103914