Statement of problem

Head and neck care has been transformed by the introduction of advanced digital technologies that will continue to be important change drivers for maxillofacial prosthodontics. Insight into these changes is important in answering the question of whether maxillofacial prosthodontics is appropriately prepared to contribute effectively to future multidisciplinary care of the head and neck.

Purpose

The purpose of this survey was to gain insight into the perception of changes experienced by maxillofacial prosthodontists in relation to clinical practice. The findings of this survey may assist the future development of the subspecialty.

Material and methods

An exploratory cross-sectional survey was conducted by using a convenience sample of members of the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics. The survey considered 10 domains and 31 questions. Fully completed surveys (164) provided a 59% response. Descriptive statistics used percentage responses to reduce and characterize perceptions across respondents.

Results

Eighty-four percent of the respondents were from the United States. Results should be interpreted based on this cohort. Respondents reported a change in care delivered over the past 10 years (72%), with the most important causes of change attributed to surgery (60%) and advanced digital technologies (56%). Respondents perceived advanced digital technologies as being central to the future of maxillofacial prosthodontics (89%) and important in attracting younger colleagues (88%). Sixty-three percent believed training programs were not providing adequate education and training in the use of advanced digital technology.

Conclusions

The perception of maxillofacial prosthodontists regarding changes taking place in care delivery was that the most important changes in the past 10 years were attributed to surgery and advanced digital technologies, that persisting pressures related to few institutional positions, that the subspecialty was poorly visible, that remuneration for care was inadequate and referring disciplines did not understand the subspecialty, that advanced digital technologies were considered central to the future of maxillofacial prosthodontics and important to attract younger colleagues to the subspecialty, that barriers to advanced digital technology use included funding for equipment acquisition, institutional funding support, and remuneration for their use in care delivery, and that maxillofacial prosthodontic programs were not providing adequate education and training in advanced digital technologies.

中文翻译：

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北美颌面修复的未来：第二部分——调查

问题陈述

通过引入先进的数字技术，头颈护理已经发生了转变，这些技术将继续成为颌面修复学的重要变革驱动力。深入了解这些变化对于回答颌面修复术是否已做好适当准备以有效促进未来的头颈部多学科护理这一问题非常重要。

目的

本次调查的目的是深入了解颌面修复医生在临床实践中所经历的变化。该调查的结果可能有助于该亚专业的未来发展。

材料与方法

通过使用美国颌面修复学会成员的便利样本进行了探索性横断面调查。该调查考虑了 10 个领域和 31 个问题。完全完成的调查 (164) 提供了 59% 的回复。描述性统计使用百分比响应来减少和描述受访者的看法。

结果

84% 的受访者来自美国。应根据该队列解释结果。受访者报告说，过去 10 年提供的护理发生了变化 (72%)，其中最重要的变化原因归因于手术 (60%) 和先进的数字技术 (56%)。受访者认为先进的数字技术是颌面修复术未来的核心（89%），并且对于吸引年轻同事（88%）很重要。63% 的人认为培训计划没有在使用先进数字技术方面提供足够的教育和培训。

结论

颌面修复医生对护理服务发生变化的看法是，过去 10 年中最重要的变化归因于手术和先进的数字技术，持续的压力与少数机构职位有关，亚专科不明显，报酬因为护理不足，转诊学科不了解该亚专业，先进的数字技术被认为是颌面修复学未来的核心，并且对于吸引年轻同事进入该亚专业很重要，先进数字技术使用的障碍包括设备采购资金、机构资金支持和用于提供护理的报酬，颌面修复项目没有提供足够的先进数字技术教育和培训。