Knowledge, awareness, and attitude regarding teledentistry among postgraduate dental students of Kanpur city, India: A questionnaire study

J Educ Health Promot. 2019 May 14:8:104. doi: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_363_18. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Background: Teledentistry is a rapidly forming subset of dentistry being used extensively in urban as well as rural areas addressing problems related to cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and quality in delivering oral health-care services. The present study aims to evaluate the knowledge, awareness, and attitudes regarding teledentistry among the dental postgraduates of Kanpur city, India.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out on a total of 120 postgraduate students. A pretested, self-structured, close-ended questionnaire was administered that consisted of 20 questions were included. The data collected was compiled in a systemic manner and analyzed in terms of frequency (yes/no).

Results: Only 77 postgraduate students responded, and it was observed that 74.4% of students had knowledge regarding teledentistry and 79.2% of students contemplated to practice teledentistry in the future. The overall awareness and attitudes regarding teledentistry were found to be 71.7%.

Conclusion: The knowledge, awareness, and attitudes were found to be satisfactory among the postgraduate dental students.

Keywords: Awareness; dental care; technology; teledentistry.