Horizontal Development of the Hepatitis Awareness Project Led by Prefectural Dental Associations to Train Dentists to Become Hepatitis Medical Care Coordinators

The prefectural dental associations (PDAs) in Hiroshima, Chiba, and Shiga initiated a hepatitis awareness project similar to the one led by the Aichi Dental Association (ADA). These seminars, sponsored by PDAs, provide dentists with information about hepatitis and encourage certification as hepatitis medical care coordinators (hepatitis coordinators). In fiscal year (FY) 2023, 21.4% (301/1405) of hepatitis coordinators in Aichi were dentists. The ratios of dentists among hepatitis coordinators certified in FY2023 were 25.2% (70/278), 7.7% (19/248), 10.4% (22/211), and 40.2% (37/92) in Aichi, Hiroshima, Chiba, and Shiga, respectively. Training of dentists progressed across 5 prefectures in FY2020, 8 in FY2021, and 13 in FY2022. To determine the project's effectiveness, the ADA plans to conduct survey among its members.