Preparedness for practice and workplace support of newly qualified allied health professionals: A qualitative study

Allied health professionals (AHPs) constitute a significant part of the global healthcare workforce. It is important that AHPs are well prepared for practice to provide quality care for patients, for their personal wellbeing, and for workforce retention. In comparison to doctors, there has been strikingly limited research on AHPs preparedness for practice. The aim of this study was (1) to understand how well newly qualified AHPs were prepared for practice and (2) to investigate support in the workplace for newly qualified AHPs.
We conducted a national qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with multiple stakeholders across the UK. Sixty interviews were conducted with 61 participants across 15 professions newly qualified registrants (NQRs), practice supervisors/employers, and policymakers. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded in NVivo and analysed using a thematic framework approach.
NQRs were perceived to be well-prepared for their clinical practice and communication skills; however, some were not prepared for decision-making, leadership, putting theory into practice and knowledge base. Underpreparedness for management of caseloads due to workforce shortages was a notable concern. Support for NQRs in the workplace varied hugely in its availability and effectiveness, was influenced by team size, how established a team is, resources, and the policies of different employers/trusts. Support that is tailored to the needs of the individual NQR was most valued by participants.
There were more similarities than differences between perceptions of preparedness for practice of AHPs and other health professionals (e.g. doctors). If education providers and employers can better prepare and support NQRs in the workplace (proactive support measures) then this may contribute to fewer problems associated with mental health and well-being to resolve later (reactive support measures), e.g. at individual (impaired mental health) or system level (retention). This initial scene-setting research across all AHPs has identified pertinent issues for in-depth exploration.

联合健康专业人员（Allied Health Professionals，AHPs）是全球医疗保健从业人员队伍的重要组成部分。确保AHPs执业准备充分，不仅可为患者提供高质量照护，也有助于其个人福祉与医护队伍留存，这一点至关重要。相较于医生群体，针对AHPs执业准备情况的相关研究却极为匮乏。本研究的目标有二：其一，了解新晋取得执业资格的AHPs的执业准备情况；其二，探究职场中为新晋合格AHPs提供的支持措施。
本研究在英国范围内开展全国性质性研究，对英国各地的多方利益相关者进行半结构化访谈。研究共开展60次访谈，受访对象共61人，覆盖15个专业领域的新注册执业者（Newly Qualified Registrants，NQRs）、执业督导/雇主以及政策制定者。访谈内容均进行录音、转录，采用NVivo软件进行编码，并通过主题框架法开展分析。
受访对象普遍认为，新注册执业者（NQRs）在临床实践与沟通技能方面准备较为充分；但部分人员在决策制定、领导力培养、理论联系实际以及知识储备方面仍存在不足。因医护人员短缺导致的病例管理准备不足，是一项值得关注的突出问题。职场为NQRs提供的支持在可及性与有效性上差异巨大，且受团队规模、团队成熟度、可用资源以及不同雇主/医疗信托机构的政策影响。针对每位NQRs个性化需求提供的支持措施，最受受访对象认可。
AHPs与其他医疗从业人员（如医生）的执业准备认知情况，相似之处远多于差异。若教育机构与雇主能够更好地为职场中的NQRs做好执业准备并提供支持（即主动支持措施），则可减少后续需要通过反应式支持措施解决的心理健康与福祉相关问题，例如针对个体（心理健康受损）或系统层面（队伍留存）的问题。这项针对全体AHPs的初步场景调研，已明确了有待深入探究的关键议题。