Efficiency of Mobile Video Sharing Application (WhatsApp®) in Live Field Image Transmission for Telepathology

TelePi: an affordable telepathology microscope camera system anyone can build and use

Telepathology facilitates histological diagnoses through sharing expertise between pathologists. However, the associated costs are high and frequently prohibitive, especially in low-resource settings, where telepathology would paradoxically be of paramount importance due to a paucity of pathologists.We have constructed a telepathology system (TelePi) with a budget of < €120 using the small, single-board computer Raspberry Pi Zero and its High-Quality Camera Module in conjunction with a standard microscope and open-source software. The system requires no maintenance costs or service contracts, has a small footprint, can be moved and shared across several microscopes, and is independent from other computer operating systems. TelePi uses a responsive and high-resolution web-based live stream which allows remote consultation between two or more locations. TelePi can serve as a telepathology system for remote diagnostics of frozen sections. Additionally, it can be used as a standard microscope camera for teaching of medical students and for basic research. The quality of the TelePi system compared favorable to a commercially available telepathology system that exceed its cost by more than 125-fold. Additionally, still images are of publication quality equal to that of a whole slide scanner that costs 800 times more.In summary, TelePi is an affordable, versatile, and inexpensive camera system that potentially enables telepathology in low-resource settings without sacrificing image quality.

The use of Vsee videoconferencing for live telepathology in Rwanda, a potential solution for resource-limited area

Objective

The shortage of pathologists is a worldwide problem that is more severe in Africa. One of the solutions is the use of telepathology (TP); however, most of the TP systems are expensive and unaffordable in many developing countries. At the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Rwanda, we assessed the possibility of combining commonly available laboratory tools into a system that can be used for diagnostic TP using Vsee videoconferencing.

Methodology

Using an Olympus microscope (with a camera) operated by a laboratory technologist, histologic images were transmitted to a computer whose screen was shared, using Vsee, with a remotely located pathologist who made the diagnoses. Sixty consecutive small biopsies (≤6 glass slides) from different tissues were examined to make a diagnosis using live Vsee-based videoconferencing TP. Vsee-based diagnoses were compared to pre-existing light microscopy-based diagnoses. Percent agreement and unweighted Cohen's kappa coefficient of the agreement were calculated.

Results

For agreement between conventional microscopy-based and Vsee-based diagnoses, we found an unweighted Cohen's kappa of 0.77 ± 0.07SE with a 95% CI of 0.62-0.91. The perfect percent agreement was 76.6% (46 of 60). Agreement with minor discrepancy was 15% (9 of 60). There were 2 cases of major discrepancy (3.30%). We were unable to make a diagnosis in 3 cases (5%) because of poor image quality related to the instantaneous internet connectivity problems.

Conclusion

This system provided promising results. However, additional studies to assess other parameters which can affect its performance are needed before this system can be considered an alternative method of providing TP services in resource-limited settings.

Perceptions of dental students towards online education during the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose

This study evaluated the usage habits, attitudes, and perceptions of undergraduate dental students toward distance (online) learning and identified variables related to those attitudes.

Materials and methods

The study included 1,605 undergraduate dental students who participated voluntarily. The data collection tool consisted of a distance learning attitude scale, a questionnaire on personal information, and open-ended questions. The perceptions of dental students to distance education according to the year and type of dental school they attended were evaluated.

Results

Most students expressed that distance learning in dental courses was not as effective as traditional face-to-face education (59.1%, n=949). While students studying at state universities had a more negative view of distance education, the satisfaction scores of the first-year students were found to be significantly lower than the other students (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Dental students were generally unhappy with the interruption of traditional education caused by COVID-19 and having to continue their education online. However, under the circumstances, they saw it as an advantage allowing them to continue their education and avoid a complete suspension.

COVID-19 and Orthodontics: An Approach for Monitoring Patients at Home

Aim:

The aim of this study was to test an experimental approach involving the remote monitoring of orthodontic patients through the use of their smartphones.

Background:

Due to the COVID-19 emergency, dental offices were asked to stop elective treatments; suddenly orthodontic patients found themselves isolated at home, without the possibility of monitoring by their orthodontists. The use of telemonitoring via smartphones can be a quick way to recover the orthodontist-patient relationship, monitor and continue the treatment.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to propose an innovative, simple and reliable approach for the remote management of orthodontic patients.

Methods:

137 patients were contacted verbally by phone and via WhatsApp®; they were asked to send a set of photographs taken with their smartphone. They were asked to complete a questionnaire to evaluate the effectiveness of the approach. Descriptive statistics (frequency with percent) of questionnaire results and the presence of procedural errors while taking pictures were calculated. Correlations between different questionnaire answers were analyzed with the Chi-Square test. Variables with p < 0:05 were declared as significant.

Results:

The majority of patients considered that this approach was positive and they did not feel abandoned. Difficulties emerged from a technical point of view, that is, in terms of photoshoot, and part of the patients expressed perplexity regarding the fact that telemonitoring can replace completely an outpatient visit.

Conclusion:

The use of telemonitoring managed to recreate a relationship with the orthodontist, especially in emergency periods.

Pan-dent-emic: a dentist's dilemma in the COVID-19 era

The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic has been unfathomable. It has affected every sector within health care industry with dentistry being one of the worst hits. Not only has it impacted the dental practice, the field of dental education has been affected as well. There has been loss in terms of delayed to no treatments, finances, psychology and most importantly breaks in ongoing education and research practices. The present article attempts to explain the dilemma of the current situation from a dentist’s perspective. Since, the effects of the contagion are seen across each level of dentistry, the current situation can truly be termed as a “Pan-dent-emic”.