Abstract

Background/purpose

Owing to the frequent occurrence of natural disasters in Japan, the Japan Dental Hygienists’ Association established a registration system for disaster relief dental hygienists (DRDH) in 2020. Since DRDHs participated in disaster support efforts following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, a questionnaire survey was conducted among them to clarify their activities, as well as anxieties and challenges accompanying the activities.

Materials and methods

A web-based questionnaire was distributed to 141 DRDHs who participated in the relief efforts. Items included demographic information, details of relief activities, perceptions of DRDH roles, experienced anxieties, and encountered difficulties. Open-ended responses for perception, anxieties, and difficulties were also collected.

Results

The response rate was 63.1 %, and 71.9 % of respondents were in their 50s or older. The most common activity was the shelter assessment, followed by individual counseling with evacuees. However, the activities perceived as most important were individual counseling and oral hygiene instruction, highlighting the necessity of understanding evacuees’ physical and mental conditions and promoting oral health in evacuation settings. Notably, 86.5 % of participants reported pre-activity anxiety, primarily due to disaster-related environmental constraints and low self-confidence in support implementation. Furthermore, 71.9 % encountered difficulties such as disrupted transportation from damaged road conditions and challenges in providing individualized care with empathy.

Conclusion

This first worldwide study documenting actual disaster relief activities of dental hygienists demonstrates their essential role in reducing disaster-related health risks. The findings underscore the need for systematic training and knowledge-sharing to enhance preparedness, self-confidence, and effectiveness of dental hygienists in future disaster responses.

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