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01-01-2017 | Education & Training

Readiness for Teledentistry: Validation of a Tool for Oral Health Professionals

Authors: Preethy Nayar, Kimberly K. McFarland, Aastha Chandak, Niodita Gupta

Published in: Journal of Medical Systems | Issue 1/2017

Abstract

We validated a survey tool to test the readiness of oral health professionals for teledentistry (TD). The survey tool, the University of Calgary Health Telematics Unit’s Practitioner Readiness Assessment Tool (PRAT) gathered information about the participants’ beliefs, attitudes and readiness for TD before and after a teledentistry training program developed for a rural state in the Mid-Western United States. Ninety-three dental students, oral health and other health professionals participated in the TD training program and responded to the survey. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to assess statistical differences in the change in the readiness rating before and after the training. Principal Components Analysis identified a three factor structure for the PRAT tool: Attitudes/ Attributes of Personnel; Motivation to Change and Institutional Resources. Overall, the evaluation demonstrated a positive change in all trainees’ attitudes following the training sessions, with the majority of trainees acknowledging a positive impact of the training on their readiness for teledentistry.

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Title: Readiness for Teledentistry: Validation of a Tool for Oral Health Professionals
Authors: Preethy Nayar
Kimberly K. McFarland
Aastha Chandak
Niodita Gupta
Publication date: 01-01-2017
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Medical Systems / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 0148-5598
Electronic ISSN: 1573-689X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-016-0654-7

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Readiness for Teledentistry: Validation of a Tool for Oral Health Professionals

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