Oral Epidemiology

The original website is here.

Prof. NAITO Mariko

【Research Keywords】
Oral health, Non-communicable diseases, Dysphagia, Sensory function, Quality of life (QOL) / Patient-reported outcomes (PROs), Community-dwelling older adults, Social support

【Recent highlights】
We are promoting collaborative research and academic exchange with Jönköping University and Linköping University in Sweden, as well as Taipei Medical University. Our epidemiological research focuses on maintaining and improving the quality of life of community-dwelling older adults, with particular attention to oral health, eating and swallowing function, sleep, and social support. We also continue to support the retention and return to work of dental hygienists in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions through the management of the Dental Hygienist Education and Training Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Hiroshima University, which was established with support from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. In addition, we are actively developing exchanges with faculty members and professionals involved in dental hygienist education in Belgium and Sweden.

Profiles of Faculty and Research Scholars

【Major Papers of the Laboratory】
・Yuko Kurawaki, Reiko Aimi, Keiko Misumi, Atsue Matsumoto, Mizuki Mitsui, Mayuka Asaeda, Rumi Nishimura, Toshinobu Takemoto, Mariko Naito. Impact of a multifaceted continuing education program on occupational stress and professional capabilities in dental hygienists: a longitudinal study. BMC Med Educ. 2025;25(1):1498.
＊HU’s press release：https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/news/94249
・Mayuka Asaeda, Rumi Nishimura, Shino Suma, Mineko Tsukamoto, Yuka Kadomatsu, Yoko Kubo, Rieko Okada, Mako Nagayoshi, Takashi Tamura, Asahi Hishida, Kenji Takeuchi, Chiho Goto, Nahomi Imaeda, Kenji Wakai, Nishiki Arimoto, Tomoko Maehara, Mariko Naito. Association of number of teeth present with nutrient intake and food group consumption. J Oral Rehabil. 2025;52(10):1664-1673.
＊HU’s press release：https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/news/91862
・Nami Obayashi, Tomoaki Shintani, Toshinori Ando, Hiroyuki Kawaguchi, Mikihito Kajiya, Mariko Naito. Consideration of the work environment in a case of an industrial homeworker with allergic contact dermatitis by UV-curing acrylic resin. Arch Environ Occup Health. 2024;79(9-10):315-320.

【Education】
Our team consists of two faculty members (Professor: Mariko NAITO, Assistant Professor: Rumi NISHIMURA), responsible for teaching social dentistry subjects—such as epidemiology, medical statistics, and oral hygiene—in both the School of Dentistry and the Department of Oral Health Sciences, as well as in the dental hygienist training program. We also hold regular online study sessions on epidemiological and clinical research.

【Research】
Together with graduate students, alumni, and domestic and international collaborators, we conduct research in an open and collegial atmosphere. Our work focuses on epidemiological and clinical studies, particularly cross-sectional and cohort studies. In QOL and PRO research, we engage in a wide range of activities - from scale development to studies incorporating objective measures.

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