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

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.

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.