Bridging the Communication Gap: Comparing Digital Tools and Traditional Methods in Post-Extraction Care Delivery

Area of Science:

• Dental Medicine
• Health Informatics
• Patient Education

Background:

• Effective post-extraction care is crucial for patient outcomes.
• Traditional methods (verbal, print) are common but may be supplemented by digital tools.
• Limited evidence exists comparing digital versus traditional post-extraction care instruction preferences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate patient and dental student preferences for digital (QR code videos) versus traditional (verbal, print) post-extraction care instructions.
• To assess perceptions of communication quality, confidence, and patient-provider interaction with each method.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 400 participants (200 dental students, 200 patients).
• Participants experienced verbal, printed leaflet, and QR code video instructions for post-extraction care.
• Validated questionnaires assessed preferences, communication quality, confidence, access, usefulness, and interaction impact.

Main Results:

• 67.5% of all participants preferred QR codes for improved communication (p < 0.001).
• QR codes boosted confidence in providing instructions among dental students (50.5%).
• Older patients (≥60 years) found QR codes most convenient (65.5%).

Conclusions:

• QR code-based videos are widely preferred for post-extraction care instructions by both patients and students.
• Digital communication tools can complement traditional methods in post-extraction care protocols.
• Further longitudinal studies are needed to assess clinical outcomes.