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Erschienen in:
03.04.2020 | COVID-19 | Short Communication
Health services provision of 48 public tertiary dental hospitals during the COVID-19 epidemic in China
Erschienen in: Clinical Oral Investigations | Ausgabe 5/2020
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Objectives
To assess the status of health services provision of public tertiary dental hospitals during the COVID-19 epidemic in China and to evaluate the regional difference of telehealth.
Materials and methods
The health services provision of public tertiary dental hospitals in China mainland during the COVID-19 epidemic was inquired. The status of non-emergency dental services, emergency dental services, and online professional consultation and the hospitals’ geographical distribution were recorded and analyzed.
Results
All the 48 public tertiary dental hospitals suspended general non-emergency dental treatment while providing emergency dental services only. Ninety percent of them notified the change of dental services online, and 69% of them offered free online professional consultations. The penetration rate of online technology was significantly higher in the eastern region than that of the central and western regions.
Conclusions
There was a significant change in the health service provision of Chinese public tertiary dental hospitals during the COVID-19 epidemic and wider use of telehealth in the eastern region.
Clinical relevance
This report demonstrated that dental health services were significantly affected by the COVID-19 epidemic in China, which might lead to a long-time impact on dental care in the future.