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Kengne Talla P, Allison P, Bussières A, Giraudeau N, Komarova S, Basiren Q, Bergeron F, Emami E. Teledentistry for improving access to, and quality of oral health care: A protocol for an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0288677. [PMID: 38165889 PMCID: PMC10760664 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Digital technologies are becoming essential to address and optimize the suboptimal performance of healthcare systems. Teledentistry involves the use of information and communication technology to improve access to oral health care and the quality of oral health care delivery. Several systematic reviews (SRs) have been conducted to synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of teledentistry but with conflicting results. The aim of this review is to comprehensively summarize available SRs and provide evidence on the impact of teledentistry on access to oral care, patients' and oral healthcare providers' outcomes, quality of oral health care and costs. This protocol has been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO CRD42022373964). Six electronic databases including MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Embase.com), CINAHL (EBSCO), Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Epistemonikos will be searched for SRs of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed reviews evaluating teledentistry modalities involving both patients and/or oral health care providers (OHCPs). We will include studies published in English or French. The outcomes will include patients' outcomes (e.g., access to oral health care, patient-reported outcomes, and patient-reported experiences); patient indicators (e.g., clinical outcomes, adherence to treatment, adverse outcomes and costs); and OHCP indicators (e.g., diagnostic accuracy, barriers and enablers costs and equity). Two independent reviewers will perform data screening, data extraction and will assess the quality of included studies using AMSTAR 2 and ROBIS tools. Data will be synthesized narratively and presented by tables and graphs. We will report any overlap of primary studies in the SRs. A statement on the strength of evidence for each outcome will be provided if possible. This review will inform decision-makers, patients, OHCPs, and researchers on the potential effectiveness, benefits, and challenges of teledentistry and support them in making recommendations for its use. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, presentations at conferences, and on social media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascaline Kengne Talla
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Paul Allison
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - André Bussières
- Département de Chiropratique, Université de Québec à Trois Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Canada
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nicolas Giraudeau
- Faculté d’Odontologie, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Svetlana Komarova
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Quentin Basiren
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Frédéric Bergeron
- Laval University, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Elham Emami
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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