Exploring Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Dentists in Libya on Tele dentistry: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey

Abstract

Teledentistry (TD) combines digital technology with dentistry, letting dentists and patients communicate remotely. As it becomes more important, it can help dentists understand new requirements and gain the skills needed to provide good dental care for their community. Aim: to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Libyan dentists regarding TD. Materials and method. This cross-sectional study involved 257 dentists in Libya. They were provided with a self-administered questionnaire through Google Forms online to collect information on their awareness, usage patterns, and perceptions of TD. Results: 257 dentists from different Libyan cities joined the study. About 65.5% were female and around 34.5% were male. Most participants (79%) had a bachelor's degree. indicated that 62% of dentists were aware of it as a tool for telemedicine either solely or in combination with other tools. While 78% of participants expressed confidence in TD's ability to protect patient privacy, nearly 80% raised concerns about the reliability of patient-provided information. A Significant association in awareness was observed based on academic qualification (p ≤ 0.05) indicating a positive correlation. Key challenges highlighted by participants included information accuracy, limitations in physically examining the patient, and patient cooperation.