Formative Second Opinion: Qualifying Health Professionals for the Unified Health System Through the Brazilian Telehealth Program

Abstract

The FSO helps professionals and health workers to use the already produced best evidence and scientific knowledge to solve their daily practice questions, improving, qualifying, and increasing the resolution of primary healthcare by the Unified Health System in Brazil. Oral health is frequently asked about by professionals, matching the high prevalence of oral disease in primary healthcare.

Analysis of the asynchronous dental teleconsulting of Telehealth Brazil Networks in Minas Gerais

“…Considering the focus of the Brazilian Telehealth Program in filling the gaps of the healthcare system and promote a PHC of higher quality, Dentistry is among the areas of highest number of inquiries by GPs, which is in agreement with the high prevalence of oral diseases in PHC services. 10 In the selected period, 3,920 teleconsulting sessions were analyzed. A higher number of questions were made from professionals of the CH-UFMG center (84.8%) than of the MS-UFMG and inter-municipal centers, which is compatible with their coverages.…”

“…20 Dentists had the highest participation in the program (93.3%), but other GPs also asked for clarifications on dental issues, indicating the existence of interdisciplinary care, in line with the integrality principle of the Brazilian Healthcare System. 10 Also, most of the teleconsulting (66.7%) were done by women, which may be a reflection of a higher prevalence of female professionals in the service 21 and their greater adherence to the program or a more significant concern with professional conduct by female workers.…”

“…The term "teleconsulting" refers to remote communication between two health professionals, and not between a health professional and a patient, since distance direct assistance to patients is not allowed in Brazil. 10 Teleconsulting can be synchronous, when communication occurs in real time by messaging or videoconference, or asynchronous, by off-line messages that must be answered within 72 hours. The service, offered by telehealth centers, 4 provides assistance and educational support to users.…”

“…4,10 The teleconsulting service also includes support for laboratory tests and diagnosis and a formative second opinion: a question and answer database extracted from previous teleconsulting sessions, selected according to relevance, 4 developed with the objective of bridging health services and scientific knowledge. 10 Another important feature is teleeducation, which supports the training of Primary Health Units (PHU) workers. 4 Since the establishment of the program, many studies have been carried out to evaluate its functioning and benefits in the treatment of patients.…”

Oral health care for the ageing population in Brazil: Trends and potentials in the public health system

“…Dentists appreciate this service (satisfaction rate is about 95%) for the advice it provides, which is predominantly now on pharmacological interactions, oral pathology and temporomandibular joint problems. It is a popular service administered by the SUS because patients are saved the time, travel and costs associated with referrals to second and third levels of care at major centres, and physicians and dentists can consult quickly and directly with specialists . Unfortunately, the telehealth programme does not yet include dental geriatricians.…”