Exploring Mentorship from the Perspective of Physiotherapy Mentors in Canada

Abstract

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.Key Words: mentorship; survey. RÉ SUMÉObjectif : analyser les facteurs qui influencent les mentors dans la profession de physiothé rapeute au Canada lorsqu'ils s'engagent dans une relation de mentorat. Mé thodes : nous avons mené une enquê te quantitative transversale sur le Web. La population cible é tait composé e de physiothé rapeutes canadiens ayant de l'expé rience comme mentor. Nous avons utilisé une mé thode de Dillman modifié e pour diffuser un questionnaire en ligne aux membres de l'Association canadienne de physiothé rapie et à ses divisions au moyen de leurs envois de courriels respectifs. Nous avons recueilli des donné es sur la nature et la porté e, les facteurs facilitants, les obstacles et les avantages du mentorat, puis les avons analysé es à l'aide de statistiques descriptives. Ré sultats : au total, 302 ré pondants ont participé à l'é tude. Ils ont indiqué ê tre mentors pour des collè gues physiothé rapeutes (91 %), pour des é tudiants de premier cycle (85 %), pour des é tudiants des cycles supé rieurs (64 %) et pour des collè gues interprofessionnels (64 %). Nous avons constaté que de nombreux facteurs facilitent la capacité des ré pondants à faire du mentorat, alors que les obstacles au mentorat ont peu de ré percussions. Les ré ponses reflè tent aussi les nombreux avantages perç us du mentorat. Conclusions : cette é tude fournit de nouvelles donné es probantes sur l'expé rience de mentorat du point de vue des mentors au sein de la profession de physiothé rapeute. Elle va dans le sens de la litté rature en soulignant les aspects positifs du mentorat et met en...

Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy as a career choice—perspective of students and physiotherapists in Portugal

“…A questionnaire developed by Reeve, Skinner, Lee, Wilson, and Alison (2012) was used 16 as a model to facilitate comparisons with previous studies (Janaudis-Ferreira et al, 2016; 17 Reeve, Skinner, Lee, Wilson, & Alison, 2012). The questionnaire was slightly adjusted 18 during a pilot testing conducted in two sessions, one with 8 physiotherapy students and 19 another one with 8 physiotherapists.…”

“…The physiotherapists' survey was divided into the following 13 four sections: 1) general data; 2) physiotherapists working in the cardiorespiratory area, 14 3) physiotherapists not working in the cardiorespiratory area and 4) general questions 15 and suggestions. Most questions were of a closed or categorical nature, using 5-point 16 Likert scales, but offering participants an opportunity to comment openly where 17 appropriate. 18 Data analysis and response rates 19 Data were exported from LimeSurvey to Excel and then to Statistical Package for Social 20 Sciences (SPSS) version 22 for statistical analysis.…”

“…Cardiorespiratory physiotherapists work in a variety of sectors and 8 settings within the health systems (e.g., such as hospitals, rehabilitation centres, 9 community health centres, private practice and academic environments) to improve 10 quality of life and physical fitness, maximise function, educate and promote healthy 11 lifestyles (Australian Physiotherapy Association, 2017). Therefore, these professionals 12 work with a wide range of health conditions that impact on the cardiac, respiratory, 13 vascular and metabolic systems ( 16 Therapy, 2013; World Health Organization, 2013). Despite the burden of these 17 conditions and the wide scope of cardiorespiratory physiotherapy (CRP) practice, 18 physiotherapy students have been showing more interest in other areas of 19 physiotherapy, such as musculoskeletal or sports (Janaudis-Ferreira et al, 2016; 20 Mulcahy, Jones, Strauss, & Cooper, 2010; Öhman, Solomon, & Finch, 2002; Öhman, 21 Stenlund, & Lars, 2001; Reeve, Skinner, Lee, Wilson, & Alison, 2012).…”

“…Yet, the 15 perspectives of these professionals on CRP remain unknown. 16 Therefore, this study sought to explore Portuguese final year physiotherapy students' 17 and physiotherapists' 1) perceptions of CRP in comparison with other areas of 18 physiotherapists' specialisation; 2) factors that influenced their decision to pursue or not 19 a career in CRP and 3) suggestions to guide the direction of further development of the 20 CRP specialty. By having representative perspectives of students and professionals, we 21 will be improving our current understanding of physiotherapy education and practice 22 and supporting the advance of national and international guidelines for the 23 Physiotherapy students and physiotherapists were invited to participate.…”

“…Students and physiotherapists were excluded if they did not digitally 15 consent to participate or closed the questionnaire without submitting the answers. 16…”