Synchronous teleconsultation in the management of temporomandibular disorder

Abstract

Purpose: to analyze synchronous teleconsultation as a support tool in the management of temporomandibular disorders in primary health care and to identify which factors have an impact on decisions about teleconsultation. Methods: retrospective study perfomed in TelessaúdeRS, between May 2018 to May 2020. This study used primary data from synchronous teleconsultation, requested by primary health care professionals and carried out by multiprofessional teleconsultants. The data collected were the information reported by the requester, the teleconsultant’s suggestions and if there was referral of the patient for specialized care after teleconsultation. The statistical association was investigated between patient characteristics and decision of teleconsultation; and teleconsultation conduct suggestions and decision of teleconsultation, using Fisher’s exact test and modeling was performed using binary logistic regression considering 5% of significance (p≤0.05). Results: during the period, 56 teleconsultations had a temporomandibular diagnostic hypothesis, these 79.2% patients were female and the average age was 43.7 years. In 59.1% of teleconsultations, primary care management was suggested, with 72.4% of patients being managed. An association was found between the decision of teleconsultation and referral to specialized care (p <000.1). The trauma report (p = 0.004) was associated with a greater chance of being referred for special care and suggestions for pharmacological (p <0.001) and non-pharmacological (p = 0.007) treatments were introduced among the teleconsultation managed in primary care. Conclusion: teleconsultation helped to manage the majority of temporomandibular disorder, streamlining care and having the potential to avoid unnecessary referrals to special care.