Supporting new graduate physiotherapists in their first year of private practice with a structured professional development program; a qualitative study.

Review written by Dr Alison Grimaldi info

Key Points

  1. New physiotherapy graduates value and benefit from non-judgmental support through both formal and informal learning opportunities provided in their first year of private practice.
All key points available for members only
Start free trial Icon
Or log in here

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

New graduate physiotherapists face a significant challenge in the transition from university to working within a private physiotherapy clinic. Many suggest that new graduates are not adequately prepared at university for the demands of private practice (1-3). Workplaces employing new graduates are aware of these limitations in skill and experience and most will provide some form of mentoring support. However, there is little information available on what new graduate physiotherapists expect and find helpful in their first year of clinical practice.

New graduate physiotherapists face a significant challenge in the transition from university to working within a private physiotherapy clinic.
bulb
New graduates should ask questions of their potential employer with regard to the opportunity provided for formal and informal mentoring.

METHODS

This study was a one-year longitudinal mixed-methods study conducted over 2020-2021 in Australia, following the experiences of new graduates provided with a structured graduate education program. Participants included 20 recent graduate physiotherapists (11 male; 9 female; age 23.10 ± 3.23

Start free trial Icon
to unlock full access to this review and 1109 more
Or log in here
Trustpilot