Evaluation of the Impact of a Peer Mentorship Program on the Professional Integration of Newly Graduated Occupational Therapists: The MenTOras Program
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- Universidad de Zaragoza
- Enrollment
- 40
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in perceived professional integration of newly graduated occupational therapists
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study evaluates the MenTOras program, a structured peer mentorship intervention designed for newly graduated occupational therapists in Aragón, Spain. The transition from university to professional practice can be challenging, and many new occupational therapists face isolation, limited guidance, and uncertainty about their professional role.
The MenTOras program connects newly graduated occupational therapists (mentees) with more experienced colleagues (mentors). Over a three-month period, mentor-mentee pairs participate in at least six structured sessions, either online or in person. These sessions are designed to support professional integration, strengthen self-confidence, promote reflective practice, and provide emotional support.
The study uses a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data are collected before the program, after completion, and six months later to assess perceived professional integration, emotional well-being, and professional confidence. In addition, qualitative interviews with a subset of participants explore their experiences in greater depth.
By fostering peer support, MenTOras aims to improve the early career experience of occupational therapists and provide a model for sustainable mentoring practices within the profession.
Detailed Description
The MenTOras project is a pilot study developed in response to the lack of structured mentorship opportunities for occupational therapists in Spain. International research highlights that mentorship improves professional integration, emotional well-being, and retention within health professions, but formal mentorship programs for occupational therapists in Spain are scarce.
Study Design This is a prospective, mixed-methods, quasi-experimental pilot study without a control group, using a successive cohort design. Approximately 20 mentor-mentee pairs (40 participants in total) will be recruited. Occupational therapists who have graduated within the past two years will be eligible as mentees, while mentors must have at least five years of professional experience. All participants must be members of the Colegio Profesional de Terapeutas Ocupacionales de Aragón (COPTOA).
Intervention
The MenTOras program lasts about three months and consists of three phases:
- Initiation: establishing rapport, setting expectations, and defining goals.
- Development: structured mentoring sessions focusing on professional identity, reflective practice, and emotional support.
- Closure: reflection on progress and planning next steps.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Other
- Masking
- None
Masking Description
Neither participants, nor researchers, nor evaluators are blinded; this is an educational and mentoring program.
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 21 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •(Mentees - Recently graduated occupational therapists):
- •Completed a degree in Occupational Therapy within the past 2 years.
- •May or may not be currently employed in the profession.
- •Registered member of the Aragon Professional Association of Occupational Therapists (COPTOA).
- •Inclusion Criteria (Mentors - Experienced occupational therapists):
- •Minimum of 5 years of clinical or community-based practice in occupational therapy.
- •Actively practicing at the time of enrollment.
- •Registered member of COPTOA.
Exclusion Criteria
- •(applies to both groups unless otherwise specified):
- •For mentors: occupational therapists who are no longer actively practicing.
- •For all participants: current involvement in another mentorship program or structured training initiative with overlapping objectives.
Arms & Interventions
Peer Mentorship Program for Early-Career Occupational Therapists
This arm involves participation in the MenTOras peer mentorship program, a structured three-month intervention designed for newly graduated occupational therapists in Aragón, Spain. Each participant is paired with an experienced occupational therapist who provides professional guidance, reflective practice, and emotional support. Mentor-mentee pairs engage in at least six structured sessions (online or in person), complemented by COPTOA-organized training workshops. The program is organized in three phases-initiation (goal-setting and rapport building), development (professional identity, problem-solving, and emotional support), and closure (reflection and planning for continued growth). Outcomes focus on professional integration, self-confidence, and mentees' well-being, as well as mentors' reciprocal learning.
Intervention: MenTOras: Peer Mentorship Program for Newly Graduated Occupational Therapists (Other)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in perceived professional integration of newly graduated occupational therapists
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-program), immediately post-intervention (3 months), and 6-month follow-up.
Definition: Newly graduated occupational therapists' perceived integration into the profession was assessed using study-specific items. Instrument: 5-point Likert scale items (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree) Areas assessed: professional confidence, sense of belonging to the occupational therapy community, perceived usefulness of the mentoring experience Interpretation: Higher scores indicate greater perceived professional integration, including stronger role confidence, a stronger sense of belonging, and a more positive perception of the mentoring process. Example questionnaire items: "I feel confident in my role as an occupational therapist." "I feel actively part of the occupational therapy professional community." "I feel that I have someone to rely on for my professional development."
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in emotional well-being(Baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up.)
- Change in professional self-confidence(Baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up.)
- Participant satisfaction with the mentorship program(Immediately post-intervention.)
Investigators
Sandra León-Herrera
PhD Student
Universidad de Zaragoza