Building Passion Develops Meaningful Mentoring Relationships among Canadian Physiotherapists

A scoping review of mentorship in allied health: Attributes, programs and outcomes

BACKGROUND

Mentorship is a mutually beneficial voluntary relationship between mentor and mentee. In principle, the mentee trusts in the mentor for guiding career development and acquiring new knowledge and skills while the mentor finds giving back to the profession rewarding. Mentorship is beneficial at every career stage, but little is known about current programs and processes.

OBJECTIVE

To review the literature about mentorship in allied health to inform programs and practices in occupational therapy. Scoping focused on barriers, facilitators and reported outcomes of programs and attributes of mentors and mentees.

DATA SOURCES

A search was applied to six databases on 8 February 2022 in Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Scopus, PUBMED and CINAHL Complete. Search terms were developed in consultation with an academic librarian and using the population, concept and context mnemonic.

METHODS

We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. Data extraction forms were piloted with two reviewers and dual extraction occurred with a portion of papers. Where conflicts arose, discussion occurred until a consensus was reached.

FINDINGS

Sixty-two papers were included from eleven countries. The papers arose from ten allied health disciplines, with five in occupational therapy. One-on-one mentoring was most common followed by groups and the use of online platforms. Structured approaches were often used, with the support of professional associations. Trust and willingness to share expertise were required attributes of mentors. Mentees appreciate self-selecting their mentor and having protected time for mentorship.

CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE

This synthesis provides a description of the available literature on mentorship in allied health. Benefits of mentorship were recorded with the acquisition of skills and knowledge being the most prominent. This synthesis provides ideas for future development and refinement of mentorship in occupational therapy.

Telehealth e-mentoring in postgraduate musculoskeletal physiotherapy education: A mixed methods case study

BACKGROUND

Educational standards of advanced musculoskeletal physiotherapy include mentored clinical practice. Whilst traditionally delivered face-to-face, telehealth e-mentoring affords a distinctive andragogy to facilitate mentee development.

OBJECTIVE

To understand the experiences and outcomes of stakeholders participating in musculoskeletal physiotherapy telehealth e-mentoring.

DESIGN

A case study design with sequential mixed methods (quantitative patient outcome data and qualitative interviews and a focus group) of a 20-week e-mentored telehealth physiotherapy service.

METHODS

Data collection comprised 1) Patient experiences and measures of musculoskeletal health 2) Mentee semi-structured interviews 3) Mentor focus group. Data analysis included descriptive statistics (median and IQR) and the Framework Method for qualitative and quantitative data respectively. An exploratory bidirectional approach supported data integration across all participants.

RESULTS

Participants included patients (n = 90), mentees (n = 10) and mentors (n = 6). Patients reported improvements (>MCID) in MSK-HQ and Patient Specific Functional Scale, with high scores for Consultation and Relational Empathy and Patient Enablement Instruments. Main themes were a) social learning b) advanced professional practice c) learner experience and d) limitations of telehealth for mentees, and for mentors a) preparedness b) journey of development and c) challenges. Participant data integration resulted in 4 main themes 1) energising/positive experience 2) communications skills valued 3) perceptions of telehealth 4) upskilling required.

CONCLUSIONS

Telehealth e-mentoring is a valuable alternative to face-to-face mentored physiotherapy practice to support development in advanced musculoskeletal physiotherapy practice. Findings indicate that technical and professional skills are required, high levels of communication skills were valued, there is a need for reconceptualisation of musculoskeletal physiotherapeutic interventions.

Experiences of telehealth e-mentoring within postgraduate musculoskeletal physical therapy education in the UK and Canada: a protocol for parallel mixed-methods studies and cross-cultural comparison

INTRODUCTION

Mentored clinical practice is central to demonstrating achievement of International Educational Standards in advanced musculoskeletal physical therapy. While traditionally delivered face-to-face, telehealth e-mentoring is a novel alternative to offering this unique pedagogy to facilitate mentee critical reflection, deeper learning and enhanced knowledge translation to optimise patient care. With COVID-19 resulting in widespread adoption of telehealth and access to mentors often limited by geography or cost, the potential value of telehealth e-mentoring needs investigating. To investigate the experiences and outcomes of multiple stakeholders (student mentees, mentors and patients) engaged in musculoskeletal physical therapy telehealth e-mentoring across two universities (UK and Canada).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Using case study design, we will use sequential mixed methods involving qualitative and quantitative components based on existing evidence. To examine the influence of telehealth e-mentoring on health outcomes in patients with musculoskeletal complaints, we will use patient-reported outcomes for satisfaction, patient empowerment and change in musculoskeletal health. We will conduct semistructured interviews to explore the development of critical thinking, clinical reasoning, communication skills and confidence of students engaged in telehealth e-mentoring. To explore the mentor acceptability and appropriateness of telehealth e-mentoring, we will conduct a focus group in each site. Finally, we will include a focus group of participants from each site to allow a cross-cultural comparison of findings to inform international stakeholders. Quantitative data will be analysed using descriptive statistics (median and IQR) to describe changes in outcome data and qualitative data will be analysed following the Framework Method.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study has ethical approval from both institutions: the University of Birmingham (ERN_20-0695) and Western University (2020-116233-47832). Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated to key stakeholders in musculoskeletal physical therapy education and practice.

Which Learning Activities Enhance Physical Therapist Practice? Part 2: Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies and Thematic Synthesis

OBJECTIVE

Post-professional physical therapy expertise requires career-long participation in learning activities. Understanding physical therapists' lived experience of learning activities provides novel insight into how best to enhance physical therapist practice from the perspective of the learner. The purpose of this study was to explore qualified physical therapists' experiences, beliefs, and perspectives with regard to learning activities and professional development.

METHODS

Eight databases were searched for studies published from inception through December 2018. Study selection included mixed-methods and qualitative studies exploring physical therapists' experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and attitudes. Thematic synthesis was performed, and the GRADE-Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research was used to assess the level of confidence in the findings. A total 41 studies with 719 participants were included.

RESULTS

The key findings include physical therapists' perceptions that worthwhile post-professional learning requires more than attendance at professional development courses. Physical therapists perceived that worthwhile learning requires connection with others and being "taken out of one's comfort zone." Sufficient time and accessible, trustworthy resources were also valued.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate- to low-level evidence suggests that the choice of professional development activities and education design for qualified physical therapists should consider the inclusion of connected activities, activities that take participants out of comfort zones, time to practice, and trustworthy resources that are easily accessible. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of learning activities encompassing these factors, prioritizing those that minimize the barriers of time and distance.

IMPACT

This study adds to the profession's understanding of physical therapists' lived experience of learning activities, providing novel insight into how best to enhance physical therapist practice from the perspective of the learner.

Leadership development of health and social care professionals: a systematic review

The need to develop leaders across all levels of the health system including clinical staff has been recognised. Investments are made by healthcare organisations each year to develop leadership within their workforce hence there is a need to evaluate these development programmes to investigate whether the stated objectives have been achieved. The aim of this review was to systematically review published literature on the effect of leadership development for health and social care professionals (HSCPs). The databases, CINAHL, EMBASE, ERIC, Medline, PsychInfo, Scopus and Web of Science, were systematically searched. After screening and quality analysis, nine full-text articles were included in the review. The included studies demonstrated a range of methodological quality and there was high variability in the leadership development programmes in terms of programme length, content, structure, participants and evaluation methods. Transformational leadership was the leadership model most frequently employed. The reported results suggest that these educational interventions have positive effects on participants such as improved leadership behaviours, increased confidence and workplace engagement. However, the mixed methodological quality of the studies and high variability between the courses mean that definitive recommendations for leadership development programmes for HSCPs cannot be made. High-quality, longitudinal studies using rigorous evaluation methods are needed to provide the necessary evidence to inform the development of future programmes.

Leadership in physiotherapy: experiences of leaders of physiotherapy professional organisations

Background

The changing demands of healthcare and ongoing advances in practice and technology require corresponding change and development of the physiotherapy profession. Physiotherapy professional organisations perform many important functions in ensuring the ongoing growth and success of the profession. The leaders of these organisations therefore have key roles in progressing the physiotherapy profession in their country. To date, however, there has been very little written about these physiotherapy leaders and their work for the profession.

Purpose

To explore the professional leadership journeys of international physiotherapy leaders and their experiences of leading physiotherapy professional organisations.

Methods

Semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 16 physiotherapy leaders from a range of physiotherapy professional organisations from around the world. The interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Three main themes were found in the analysis of the data: ‘Leadership roles, behaviours and challenges’, ‘Perceptions of the profession of physiotherapy’ and ‘Leadership development’.

Conclusions

The physiotherapy leaders describe interesting and varied roles that can also be challenging and demanding. They recognise the many challenges facing the physiotherapy profession internationally and the need for physiotherapists to more effectively advocate for the profession and demonstrate leadership. Leadership development opportunities and mentoring may be potential strategies to enable the development of future leaders of the physiotherapy profession.

Perceptions of physiotherapy clinical educators' dual roles as mentors and assessors: Influence on teaching-learning relationships

Background

Central to clinical education is the teaching-learning (T-L) relationship that evolves between the clinical educator (CE) and the student. Within this T-L relationship, CEs may be expected to fulfil dual roles as mentors and assessors of students. Challenges for both parties may arise when CEs take on these different roles.

Objectives

The goal of this study was to ascertain how CEs perceived the influence of their dual roles as mentors and assessors on their T-L relationships with physiotherapy students.

Method

Individual interviews were semi-structured with nine CEs during this qualitative descriptive study at the Division of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University. A content analysis followed to analyse the data obtained. An iterative process, aimed to understand the phenomena under study, was conducted via an interpretive approach in context. This revealed main themes that were identified and refined.

Results

Clinical educators experienced challenges when their role changed from being a mentor to that of assessor. These challenges affected the learning of students, as they influenced the T-L relationship. Clinical educators experienced ambiguities regarding their dual roles and, as a result, their expectations were often not fulfilled.

Conclusion

Students' learning processes were negatively affected by the changing roles of CEs, who acted as mentors and later as assessors of clinical competence during the students' clinical rotations. The positioning theory was offered as a framework to resolve the challenges created by the dual roles and to manage expectations between CEs and students. The T-L encounters could be enhanced if students and CEs aligned themselves to a learning-centred paradigm where the focus was on learning and where the needs of the diverse students and the expectations of CEs were balanced. Further research should explore how a workshop with role play, demonstrating to CEs in practice how to reposition themselves, would impact the relationships between both parties.

Clinical implications

It is essential to ensure a positive T-L relationship between a CE and a student as this will improve the quality of learning in the clinical environment and, therefore, directly influence student's patient management. Implementing faculty development programmes to address this, should be further explored.

Keywords

physiotherapy; clinical education; teaching-learning relationship; learning-centred; dual roles.

Physiotherapy students' perceptions of the dual role of the clinical educator as mentor and assessor: Influence on the teaching-learning relationship

Background

Clinical education is widely considered to be the cornerstone of health care professionals’ education. Clinical educators (CEs) fulfil many roles and act as both mentors and assessors in the learning process of students’ undergraduate health care professions education. However, changing from being a mentor to being an assessor may present particular challenges for both the CE and the students.

Objective

To explore students’ perceptions of how the dual role of a CE as mentor and assessor influenced the teaching–learning (T-L) relationship.

Method

A qualitative descriptive study, involving seven individual semi-structured interviews and two focus group discussions, was conducted with students in the Division of Physiotherapy, Stellenbosch University. A contextualised interpretive content analysis was used to analyse the data. By following an iterative process, themes were identified and categories were reviewed and refined.

Results

Challenges were experienced when CEs had to act and change as both mentors and assessors to the needs of the students. This influenced the T-L relationship and consequently impacted the learning of students. The expectations of students and CEs were often not fulfilled. Contradictions were disclosed regarding the dual role of CEs.

Conclusion

The findings of the study, grounded in the perceptions and experiences of students on the dual role of the CE, are highlighted. It is important to consider the challenges that the students face in order to minimise any negative effects these challenges could have on students’ learning processes.

Exploring Mentorship from the Perspective of Physiotherapy Mentors in Canada

Purpose: This study explored the factors that influence mentors in the profession of physiotherapy (PT) in Canada when engaging in a mentorship relationship. Methods: We conducted a quantitative, cross-sectional, Web-based survey. The target population consisted of Canadian physiotherapists who had experience as mentors. We used a modified Dillman approach to disseminate an online questionnaire to members of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and its divisions using their respective e-blasts. We collected data on the nature and extent, facilitators, barriers, and benefits of mentorship and then analyzed them using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 302 respondents were included in this study. They reported being a mentor to fellow PT colleagues (91%), undergraduate students (85%), graduate students (64%), and inter-professional colleagues (64%). We found that although many factors facilitated the respondents' ability to mentor, barriers to mentorship had minimal impact. Responses also reflected many perceived benefits of mentorship. Conclusions: This study provides novel evidence relating to the experience of mentorship from the perspective of mentors in the profession of PT. It reinforces the literature by highlighting the positive aspects of mentorship, and it underscores the continued need for support from professional associations, institutions, and physiotherapists to improve current mentorship experiences in PT.

Leadership and leadership development within the profession of physiotherapy in Ireland

BACKGROUND

Health service reform, physiotherapy graduate unemployment, and the impending introduction of state regulation mean that physiotherapists in Ireland today are facing many challenges. Leadership is needed to ensure that the profession will be able to adapt to the demands and inevitable changes ahead.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the perceptions of physiotherapists in Ireland of leadership and leadership characteristics, and to explore their participation in leadership development training.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional nationwide study, an Internet-based survey was administered via e-mail to members of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (n = 2,787).

RESULTS

There were 615 responses to the survey. A high proportion of respondents (74.0%) perceived themselves to be a leader. Factors associated with self-declaration as a leader were time since graduation, highest qualification attained, and leadership training. Leadership training was also associated with placing greater importance on achieving a leadership position. Some form of leadership training had been completed by 41.5% of respondents. Communication and professionalism were the most highly rated leadership characteristics in all three settings.

CONCLUSION

Physiotherapists who have had leadership training were more likely to perceive themselves to be leaders. Leadership training may support physiotherapists to assume leadership roles both clinically and nonclinically.

An exploratory study of career, psychosocial, and clinical mentoring of podiatrists

The benefits of mentoring in the health sector have received a great deal of attention from health management researchers. Much of this research has concentrated on doctors and nurses at pre-qualification or early career stages in their professional lives working in large organizations. Little attention has been paid to the needs of podiatrists who are often employed in multiple part time or casual roles in public sector clinics or private practices. Many podiatrists rely on a professional association to provide a mentor and continuing professional development. This study uses semi-structured interviews with mentors and mentees and template analysis, to explore three dimensions of mentoring; career, psychosocial and clinical, of podiatrists who are members of a professional association. The implications for practice, theory and further research on podiatrists and other allied health professions are discussed.

Survey of a pelvic health physiotherapy community of practice: a pilot study to gain member input to help sustain and advance the group

PURPOSE

To gather input and perspectives from members of the Calgary Pelvic Health Physiotherapists' Community of Practice (PHPT CoP) to ensure common goals that help sustain and advance the group.

METHOD

An online survey grounded in CoP theory was used to elicit feedback from 23 PHPTs. Descriptive statistics summarized survey results.

RESULTS

The response rate was 96%; all respondents worked in women's pelvic health. Respondents expressed interest in continuing regular face-to-face meetings, a speaker series, case studies, and connecting with other PHPTs.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest continuation of regular meetings, with a focus on clinical skill development, and an annual Alberta PHPT conference. Members of this community of practice seek a strategy to promote PHPT to the public and develop referral sources.