Evaluating the benefits of the MOVE mentoring programme to mentors and early career physiotherapists

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of a structured mentoring programme for new graduate physiotherapists, which included standardised mentor training. Thirty new graduate physiotherapists from Aotearoa New Zealand were matched with registered physiotherapist mentors located outside their workplace but working in the same clinical practice area. All mentors completed a standardised 3 hr mentor training. Four mentoring sessions were conducted by Zoom over 4 months. Mentees and mentors completed pre- and post-mentoring surveys and participated in post mentoring focus groups for review and elaboration of data. All participants reported benefits from the mentoring process. Most mentors had no previous mentor training and found the 3 hr programme valuable for improving their confidence and skills. Mentees reported improvements in confidence and motivation and highlighted the benefits of having a mentor outside the workplace to discuss potentially sensitive issues. The main challenges for mentees related to them taking the lead in the process due to feeling unsure what to bring to mentoring sessions so early in their career. This study highlighted both the benefits and challenges of structured mentoring for early career physiotherapists and mentors in Aotearoa New Zealand.