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Dr. Chrishan Fernando

Dr. Chrishan Fernando

University of Otago

Dr. Chrishan Fernando is a dedicated dental educator and researcher pursuing a Master of Health Professions Education. As a Senior Professional Practice Fellow at the University of Otago, with affiliations to the University of Western Australia, his work focuses on integrating mental health and wellbeing into dental education. Passionate about curriculum design and evidence-based teaching, he is committed to enhancing student outcomes and shaping the future of health professions education.

New Zealand

Abstracts

2026

Weaving educational institutions to support mental health in dental and oral health students: A scoping review

Mental health and wellbeing challenges remain prevalent in dental and oral health education, impacting both student experience and professional development. This scoping review aimed to identify and evaluate curriculum-based interventions designed to address these concerns among undergraduate dental and oral health therapy students. The review followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines, with a comprehensive search yielding 5,852 studies for screening; 12 studies met inclusion criteria. Eight intervention frameworks were identified, including yoga, gratitude practices, arts-based epistemology, self-development coaching, mindfulness, rewilding, logistical adjustments, and gamification. Among these, yoga, gratitude practices, and logistical modifications demonstrated the most consistent effectiveness, while others lacked robust empirical support. Psychological stress emerged as the primary outcome measure, commonly assessed using tools such as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Overall, findings highlight variability in intervention design, implementation, and evidence quality. The limited theoretical grounding of several approaches underscores the need for more rigorous evaluation and alignment with accreditation standards. These findings inform the development of structured, evidence-based wellbeing interventions within dental curricula.