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.