Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40619363›Full record

ArticleBMC oral health2025

Acceptance and readiness for tele-dentistry among dental professionals amidst conflict in Sudan.

Sara Omer Alabass, Yasir Ahmed Mohammed Elhadi, Mohamed Mustafa Saeed Alhussain, Reem Esam Siddig, Atika Osman Abdalla Elfaki, Elhassan Elaish Yousif Elgayli, Mohamed Abubaker Hasabelrasoul Abdelrahman, Almodathir Balla Alamin, Rayan Mustafa Saeed Elhusien, Ashraf Ismail Mohammed Kara and 1 more

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Article in BMC oral health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Sara Omer Alabass *Department of Dental Public Health, College of Dentistry, Managil University for Sciences and Technology, Elmanagil, Sudan. Saraomerahmed99@gmail.com.
Yasir Ahmed Mohammed Elhadi *Public Health Institute, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3649-0374
Mohamed Mustafa Saeed AlhussainCollege of Dentistry, Gezira university, Wad Medani, 21112, Sudan.
Reem Esam SiddigSudanese Medical Research Association (SMRA), Khartoum, 1111, Sudan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3784-0965
Atika Osman Abdalla ElfakiFaculty of Dentistry, Alneelain University, Khartoum, 1111, Sudan.
Elhassan Elaish Yousif ElgayliElreefi Dental Clinic, Elmanagil, Sudan.
Mohamed Abubaker Hasabelrasoul AbdelrahmanCollege of Dentistry, Gezira university, Wad Medani, 21112, Sudan.
Almodathir Balla AlaminDepartment of Research, University of Science and Technology, Omdurman, Khartoum State, Sudan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5770-1510
Rayan Mustafa Saeed ElhusienFaculty of Dentistry, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
Ashraf Ismail Mohammed KaraNahda College, Khartoum, 1111, Sudan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8565-3191
Nada Tawfig HashimDepartment of Periodontics, RAK College of Dental Sciences, RAK Medical & Health Sciences University, Ras-AlKhaimah, 12973, United Arab Emirates.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5485-2768

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe ongoing conflict in Sudan has severely disrupted dental service delivery, highlighting the urgent need for alternative communication between patients and dental professionals. In this context, tele-dentistry has emerged as a critical, yet underexplored, solution for sustaining oral healthcare delivery. This study aimed to assess the acceptance and readiness for tele-dentistry among dental professionals in Sudan.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 497 Sudanese dental professionals using a self-administered questionnaire based on the Tele-dentistry Acceptance Survey- Dentist Version (TAS-D). Data were analysed using R statistical software (version 4.3.2). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics. Bivariate analyses were conducted using the Wilcoxon rank-sum and Pearson's Chi-square tests. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of acceptance of tele-dentistry.

resultsOverall, 59.8% (n = 297) of respondents reported a favourable attitude toward the future use of tele-dentistry. Acceptance of tele-dentistry use was significantly associated with academic qualification and work setting. Denttal professionals with an MSc degree had higher odds of acceptance compared to those with a BDS (OR = 3.00, 95% CI: 1.39-7.10, p = 0.007). Working in an academic setting also increased the likelihood of acceptance (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.18-2.59, p = 0.005). Conversely, specialists were less likely to accept tele-dentistry than general practitioners (OR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.15-0.90, p = 0.033). Stratified analysis indicated that academic qualification and work setting remained significant predictors only among general practitioners.

conclusionsA significant proportion of Sudanese dental professionals favour the use of tele -dentistry in the future, particularly those with postgraduate qualifications and those working in academic settings. These findings provide important insights to guide the development of tele-dentistry policies and capacity-building initiatives in Sudan.

Indexed as

Armed ConflictsAttitude of Health PersonnelDentistsTelemedicineAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSudanSurveys and QuestionnairesDental professionalsHealth technology acceptanceSudanTele-dentistry

Identifiers

PMID40619363
PMCPMC12232716

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.