Project title
An evidence-based wellbeing programme for dental professionals and students
Country
Australia
Background
Dentistry is one of the most stressful healthcare professions, with high rates of burnout and psychological distress seen all over the world. Challenges often begin during education and persist throughout careers, impacting practitioner wellbeing, patient safety, and workforce sustainability.
Existing interventions are fragmented and narrowly focused, leaving a critical gap for comprehensive, culturally responsive wellbeing strategies. This project addresses that gap by developing and evaluating a holistic programme integrating ten dimensions of wellbeing: physical, emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, financial, environmental, digital, and cultural.
Summary
The project will design, implement, and evaluate a multidimensional wellbeing programme tailored for dental students and professionals across Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. Delivered in two formats (hybrid and fully online), the programme will incorporate evidence-based strategies such as mindfulness, resilience training, financial literacy, nature-based interventions, and culturally-safe practices.
Validated tools will be used to evaluate the programme, and the Kirkpatrick Model will measure the short- and medium-term impacts on wellbeing, stress, and burnout, alongside qualitative feedback to ensure cultural inclusivity and scalability.
Outcome
This project is expected to deliver improvements in the wellbeing and resilience of dental professionals and students by equipping them with practical, evidence-based strategies to manage stress and prevent burnout. By fostering healthier, more sustainable work practices, the programme aims to reduce psychological distress and enhance professional satisfaction, which in turn supports safer, higher-quality patient care.
Beyond individual benefits, the research will generate robust data to inform curriculum design and institutional wellbeing policies, embedding practitioner wellbeing as a core component of dental education and professional development. The findings will also provide a scalable model for integration into continuing professional development frameworks, contributing to systemic change across healthcare education globally. Ultimately, the project seeks to create ripple effects that strengthen workforce sustainability, improve patient safety, and promote a culture of holistic wellbeing within dentistry and beyond.