Knowledge, awareness, and attitude regarding teledentistry among undergraduate dental students: A descriptive study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, awareness, and attitude regarding teledentistry among dental undergraduate students. Background: Teledentistry is a quickly forming subset of dentistry that is being used extensively in urban and rural areas addressing problems related to cost factors, effectiveness, efficiency, and quality in delivering high-quality oral health-care services. Materials and Methods: The current study is a descriptive cross-sectional survey of 203 undergraduate students, including students from 3rd year, 4th year, and interns. A pretested, self-structured, and closed-ended questionnaire was administered that consisted of 22 questions was included. The data are collected systematically and analyzed in frequency (yes/no). Results: From 209 undergraduate students, 203 participants responded, and it was observed that 71.3% of students knew teledentistry. Overall, it was found that compared to other years of undergraduate students, interns have a vague knowledge of teledentistry. The overall percentage for knowledge, awareness, and attitudes regarding teledentistry was 68.9%. Conclusion: The knowledge, awareness, and attitude were satisfactory among undergraduate dental students. However, there is a need to improve the knowledge and its usage to promote teledentistry.