Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Teleorthodontics among Orthodontic Professionals in Yemen: A Cross-Sectional Study
Background: Teleorthodontics has the potential to enhance access to orthodontic care in resource-limited settings. This study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward teleorthodontics among orthodontic professionals in Yemen. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 120 orthodontists and orthodontic residents from two master’sdegree-granting universities in Yemen (Sana’a University and University of Science and Technology) between January and March 2025. A validated 28-item questionnaire assessed KAP using 3-point (knowledge) and 5-point (attitudes/practices) Likert scales. Parametric tests were used to examine the associations between demographics and KAP scores.
Results: Participants (mean age 33.8±4.5 years; 60.0% female; 66.7% residents) demonstrated high knowledge (mean 2.82/3.0, 94.0%), moderately positive attitudes (mean 3.68/5.0, 73.6%), and moderate practices (mean 3.03/5.0, 60.6%) regarding teleorthodontics. Age was significantly associated with attitudes (p=0.023) and practices (p=0.011), with clinicians aged 35–42 years showing more favorable responses. No significant associations were found between sex, education level, practice setting, or experience (all p>0.05).
Conclusion: Orthodontic professionals in Yemen exhibit strong conceptual acceptance of teleorthodontics; however, practical implementation remains limited, likely due to infrastructure and training constraints. Strengthening digital infrastructure and expanding structured teledentistry training may help translate positive perceptions into consistent clinical practice in resource-constrained settings.
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