233 - Survey of Provider Attitudes and Opinions of Telehealth at TUSDM

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to assess provider attitudes and opinions regarding telehealth at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM). The secondary objective of the study was to compare the faculty, pre-doctoral students, and postdoctoral students at TUSDM in terms of their attitudes and opinions regarding telehealth.

Methods: A survey was developed and validated, and was sent to 849 dental students, postgraduate students (residents) and faculty at TUSDM. The survey consisted of 13 questions regarding the participants’ professional background as well as their opinions and attitudes towards telehealth.

Results: Of the 849 survey recipients, 163 (19%) responded. Among the 161 usable surveys, 90 (56%) were undergraduate students, 42 (26%) were postgraduate students and 29 (18%) were faculty at TUSDM. Fifty-four percent reported having completed at least one telehealth visit as a provider. Among this subset, 80% strongly agreed or agreed that telehealth is a good adjunct in providing care; 74% strongly agreed or agreed that telehealth has improved communication with patients. Among all respondents, 66% of the predoctoral students, 52% of the faculty and 41% of the postdoctoral students reported an opinion that patient preference for in-person visits may be one of the barriers to telehealth; this difference was statistically significant (P=.025).

Conclusion: Most dental providers at TUSDM reported positive opinions and attitudes regarding telehealth’s ability to improve communication and serve as an adjunct to providing care. Opinions on barriers to telehealth may vary among predoctoral students, postdoctoral students, and faculty.