Questionnaire for Dental Technicians/Technologists

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Study Information sheet

Study title: The extent of the treatment and prosthodontics rehabilitation for acquired head and neck defects in South Africa

Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for taking time to go through this study information sheet. I am Dr Matshediso Mothopi-Peri, and I am a postgraduate student at the University of the Witwatersrand, studying towards a degree in Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Maxillo Facial and Oral Surgery. The main aim of this study is to establish the number of the surgical procedures and maxillofacial prosthodontic rehabilitation procedures that are performed in the head and neck region in South Africa and to determine the barriers that clinicians and dental technicians/technologists face whilst managing these patients or giving laboratory technical support.

I am inviting you to take part in this study as one of the professionals in the 6 groups of important role players: Ear Nose and Throat surgeons, Maxillofacial and Oral surgeons, Ophthalmologists, Plastic and Reconstructive surgeons, Prosthodontists and Dental technicians/technologists.

The study is a survey-based study, and it involves responding to an online questionnaire which can be accessed by a QR code or a link which will be sent to an email or to a WhatsApp messaging platform. Please note that the questionnaire is anonymous as there is no personal identifiable information that will be shared or published. Participation in this study is voluntary and there are no penalties for refusing to participate or for withdrawing from the study. If a participant decides to withdraw from the study (which can be done at any time), the data that have already been collected will be immediately destroyed unless the participant gives consent for it to be retained. There is no direct benefit to the participants or reimbursement for taking part in the study. There are no known risks for taking part in this study.

If you agree to take part in this study, you will be requested to complete a 10- 15 minute online questionnaire. Engaging in the online process will imply that you have consented to take part in the study. Confidentiality will be ensured in the study by the following measures: Only myself, and my supervisors (Professors Risimati Rikhotso and Peter Owen) will have access to the data during the study period. Data will be securely stored in a password protected computer for the duration of the study and for a period of two years post publication or for six years if there is no publication. Data will not be given to third parties.

The output of this study is anticipated to provide information which will guide the establishment of better treatment protocols and or guidelines for patients with acquired head and neck defects, leading to improved treatment outcomes for both patients and clinicians. The study results may be published. The summary of the results will be given to participants upon request.

This study has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee (Medical) of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg ("Committee"). The study's ethics approval number is MED24-03-464. A principal function of this Committee is to safeguard the rights and dignity of all human subjects who agree to participate in a research project and the integrity of the research.

If you have any concern over the way the study is being conducted, please contact the Chairperson of this Committee who is Professor Paul Ruff, who may be contacted via any one member of the secretariat. The telephone numbers for the Committee secretariat are 011 717 2700/1234/2656/1252 and the email addresses are Zanele.Ndlovu@wits.ac.za, Rhulani.Mukansi@wits.ac.za, Mapula.Ramaila@wits.ac.za and Iain.Burns@wits.ac.za

Should you need further information regarding this study, please feel free to contact me on the below contact details:

Email: 9610423R@students.wits.ac.za

Mobile number: 076 215 0952

Thank you for reading this information leaflet and for showing interest in this study.

Are you willing to participate in this study?

Yes

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Please provide your name & surname (Your details will never be shared with third parties or published)

Please enter the place where you took the survey from e.g Pretoria

Are you practicing as a Dental Technician/Technologist?

Yes

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What is the reason for not practicing as a Dental Technician/Technologist?

I am retired

I am currently in a management position

I am no longer doing laboratory work

I am currently studying

Due to ill health

No job opportunities

Other (specify):

Have you ever made maxillofacial prostheses before? (Including during Dental Technician/Technology training)

Yes

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What is the reason for not doing maxillofacial prostheses? (You can choose more than one answer)

Not experienced and/or skilled in Maxillofacial Prosthetics

Not interested in Maxillofacial Prosthetics

No training in Maxillofacial prosthetics

Not adequately trained in Maxillofacial Prosthetics

No maxillofacial pros services at my current job

Other (specify):

Gender

Female

Male

Other

Prefer not to answer

4) Age

20 - 30 yrs

31 - 40 yrs

41 - 50 yrs

51- 60 yrs

61+ yrs

Are you registered with the South African Dental Technicians Council (SADTC)?

Yes

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In which category are you registered with the SADTC?

As a dental technician

As a dental technologist

When did you first register with the SADTC?

Where are you working?

Public sector - non-academic institution

Public sector - tertiary or academic institution

Private sector (Own dental laboratory)

Private sector (Employed in a laboratory owned by a Dental technician)

Private sector (Employed in a Laboratory owned by a Dentist)

Public sector and private dental laboratory

Where is your practice/institution located? (You can choose more than one answer)

Town

City

Township

Rural area

Suburb

Other (Specify):

Which province is your practice/institution situated in? (You can choose more than one answer)

North-West

Western Cape

Northern Cape

Eastern Cape

Limpopo

Gauteng

Free State

Mpumalanga

KwaZulu Natal

What type of institution/s is your laboratory giving services to? (You can choose more than one answer)

Primary health care centre/s

Regional hospital/ls

Tertiary public hospital/s

Private practice/s

Private hospital/ls

Which Dental Technician/Technology qualification/s (undergraduate, postgraduate diploma/degree) do you have?

Bachelor's Degree (BTech)

Master's degree (MTech)

PhD in dental technology

Diploma (please state) :

None

Other (specify):

How long have you been practicing as a Dental Technician/Technologist?

What type of dental technology services are offered in your laboratory or institution? (You can choose more than one answer)

Complete Dentures

Partial dentures (acrylic based)

Partial Dentures (metal based)

Crown and bridgework

Removable Implant supported prostheses.

Fixed implant supported prostheses

CAD/CAM services

Maxillofacial prostheses

Other (specify):

Did you receive training in Maxillofacial prosthetics during your undergraduate training?

Yes

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If you can remember, please list the maxillofacial appliances you made during training

Cannot remember

The following:

Did you receive any postgraduate training in Maxillofacial prosthetics?

Yes

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Do you, or have you ever, made maxillofacial prostheses in the last 12 months?

Yes

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Do you, or have you ever, made maxillofacial prostheses in the last 5 years?

Yes

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How many maxillofacial prostheses did you make in the past 12 months?

1 - 5

6 - 10

11 - 15

16 - 20

> 20

How many maxillofacial prostheses did you make in the past 5 years?

1 -5

6 - 10

11 - 15

16 - 20

> 20

Which type/s of maxillofacial prostheses are you making at your workplace? (You can choose more than one answer)

Maxillary obturators (surgical)

Maxillary obturators (interim to definitive)

Mandibular dentures

Auricular prostheses

Ocular prostheses

Orbital prostheses

Nasal prostheses

Facial prostheses

Not applicable (I am not making maxillofacial prostheses/appliances)

Other (Specify):

Where are you getting your requests for maxillofacial prostheses from? (You can choose more than one answer)

Prosthodontists from private

Prosthodontists from public sector (non-academic)

Prosthodontists from tertiary & or academic hospitals

Dentists (private & or public sector)

Referrals from other provinces

Referrals from other countries

Not applicable (I am not making maxillofacial prostheses)

Other (Specify):

If courses in maxillofacial prosthetics for dental technicians are offered (for upskilling), would you be interested to attend?

Yes

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What are your reasons for not wanting to be upskilled in Maxillofacial prosthetics?

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What is your view about Multidisciplinary teams/structures/groups? (You can choose more than one answer)

Patients are managed effectively in a multidisciplinary team

They waste clinicians, technicians and/or patients' time

Good in theory but not in practice

Makes communication easy amongst practitioners

Are essential for treating Head and Neck defects, anomalies or injuries

Do not make a difference in patient management

Other (specify):

Do you think multidisciplinary teams are important/necessary in the management of patients with Head and Neck defects?

Yes

Other (Specify):

Please choose the type of the multidisciplinary team or structure or group that you belong to

Structured multidisciplinary team (team with relevant stake holders, and holding frequent team/group meetings)

Semi-structured (team members can be accessed when required, no frequent group/team meetings / ad hoc meetings)

Not structured (some form of referral system in place between clinicians, but no group/team meetings)

I do not belong to any multidisciplinary team, structure or group

Other (specify):

If you DO NOT belong to a multidisciplinary team or structure, what is the reason? (You can choose more than one answer)

It does not exist at my workplace

I am not interested to belong to one

It is not convenient to attend meetings

I am too busy to attend the meetings

Not applicable (I belong to a multidisciplinary team)

I have never heard of the multidisciplinary teams/structures/groups before

Other (specify):

Where is your multidisciplinary team/structure/group based?

Institution where I work.

Different institution/ practice

Group practice

Rotates between practices and or healthcare facility

Not applicable (I do not belong to a multidisciplinary team)

Other (specify):

Are you willing and available to be contacted for the Phase 2 of this study?

Yes

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Please write your contact details below so that you can be contacted for Phase 2:

Email address
WhatsApp mobile number

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Please feel free to make any comments

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