Peer Mentorship Program for Newly Graduated Occupational Therapists in Aragón (MenTOras)

NCT ID: NCT07173283

Last Updated: 2025-09-15

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 40 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-08-01
• Study Completion Date: 2026-07-01

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.

Pairs will participate in at least six mentoring sessions, adapted to the mentee's needs and professional area. Mentors receive orientation and ongoing support from the research team. COPTOA will also organize additional training sessions on relevant professional topics.

Outcomes and Data Collection Data will be collected at three time points: baseline (pre-program), post-program, and six-month follow-up. Quantitative measures include the mentees' perceived professional integration, emotional well-being, and professional self-confidence, as well as satisfaction with the program. Mentors will report their perceptions of mentee growth, satisfaction with the mentoring process, and their own learning.

Additionally, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with a subset of participants to explore the mentoring experience, perceived benefits, and suggestions for improvement.

Analysis Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including repeated measures analyses. Qualitative data will be analyzed thematically using established frameworks to capture participants' experiences and recommendations. The integration of both data types will provide a comprehensive understanding of the program's feasibility, acceptability, and impact.

Significance This pilot study seeks to provide evidence on the feasibility and effectiveness of a peer mentorship program for newly graduated occupational therapists in Spain. If successful, MenTOras could be expanded to other regions and serve as a model for structured mentoring programs across health professions. The findings may also inform policies aimed at improving workforce retention, professional identity, and the integration of occupational therapists into healthcare and social systems.

Conditions

Professional Integration of Newly Graduated Occupational Therapists; Peer Mentorship in Health Professions; Early Career Transition and Professional Identity

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

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.

Group Type: OTHER

MenTOras: Peer Mentorship Program for Newly Graduated Occupational Therapists

Intervention Type: OTHER

The MenTOras intervention is a structured peer mentorship program designed for newly graduated occupational therapists in Aragón, Spain. The program pairs early-career occupational therapists (mentees, graduated within the past two years) with experienced colleagues (mentors, with at least five years of practice). Over approximately three months, each mentor-mentee pair participates in at least six structured sessions (online or in person). Sessions follow three phases-initiation, development, and closure-focusing on professional identity, reflective practice, emotional support, and skill integration. Mentors receive orientation and guidance to ensure program consistency. COPTOA also offers topic-specific training to address emerging professional needs. The intervention aims to foster professional integration, enhance self-confidence, and promote well-being among new occupational therapists, while strengthening professional cohesion and retention.

Interventions

MenTOras: Peer Mentorship Program for Newly Graduated Occupational Therapists

The MenTOras intervention is a structured peer mentorship program designed for newly graduated occupational therapists in Aragón, Spain. The program pairs early-career occupational therapists (mentees, graduated within the past two years) with experienced colleagues (mentors, with at least five years of practice). Over approximately three months, each mentor-mentee pair participates in at least six structured sessions (online or in person). Sessions follow three phases-initiation, development, and closure-focusing on professional identity, reflective practice, emotional support, and skill integration. Mentors receive orientation and guidance to ensure program consistency. COPTOA also offers topic-specific training to address emerging professional needs. The intervention aims to foster professional integration, enhance self-confidence, and promote well-being among new occupational therapists, while strengthening professional cohesion and retention.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Peer Mentoring for Occupational Therapists in Aragón

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 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).

• 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

• 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.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 21 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Universidad de Zaragoza

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Sandra León-Herrera

PhD Student

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Sandra León-Herrera, PhD student

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Universidad de Zaragoza

Marta Marín-Berges, Adjunct Professor

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Universidad de Zaragoza

Locations

Colegio Profesional de Terapeutas Ocupacionales de Aragón (COPTOA)

Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Spain

Central Contacts

Sandra León-Herrera, PhD student

Role: CONTACT

tsandraocupacional@gmail.com

+34605381203

Facility Contacts

Marta Marín-Berges, Adjunct Professor

Role: primary

mmarinb@unizar.es

+34651668630

Other Identifiers

SL_CEIN_2025_16

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id