Digital transformation of information related to dental pain management in traditional or complementary and alternative medicine

Abstract

Background: According to the World Health Organization, communication is one of the most important challenges for the integration of Traditional or Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TM/CAM) into healthcare systems. Objective: To develop harmonized tools and a standardized communication method between traditional and conventional medicine for pain management in order to facilitate communication between health actors in the context of dentistry. Materials and methods: We took a healer-centered approach and collected 30 information sheets from African healers. Using knowledge engineering techniques we extracted information models, candidate terms and terminologies. Next, we designed a UML-based use case of communication between traditional and conventional medicines. Finally, an integrative communication method was formalized through the identification of processes and communication tools. Results: Our findings showed that patients, dentists and healers communicate using popular terminology that can include specific terms. However, it is possible that they do not fully understand the challenges created by the use of biomedical vocabulary. We were able to develop an integrative communication method structured around a vocabulary shared by traditional medicine and conventional medicine, ontology, a thesaurus, two information models, a context field, the tasks of the health actor, communication interfaces, communication processes and the type of communication. Conclusion: Communication between traditional medicine and conventional medicine depends on the capacity of healthcare actors and the healthcare system to integrate and use concepts and therapeutic models from the other approach. An evaluation of the ability of a healthcare system and its actors to use the biomedical paradigm from another healthcare system may help to prevent health and socioeconomic risks related to the integration of TM/CAM.