A Preliminary Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Mentoring Program for Respiratory Care

Abstract

In 2008 the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation launched the Respiratory Therapy Mentoring Program, which pairs a respiratory therapist (RT) relatively new to CF (apprentice) with a highly experienced RT (mentor) from a similar CF care center. We wished to determine if we had achieved our short-term goal of increasing CF-specific knowledge among the apprentices who participated in the program. Selected apprentices were each matched with a mentor, based on characteristics of CF population, clinical setting, center size, and geographic location of their care centers. Apprentices completed a CF-specific RT knowledge self assessment tool prior to and after a site visit to their mentor's center. Mentors also completed a post site visit knowledge self assessment tool regarding their apprentice. Thirty-seven apprentices completed a pre and post site visit knowledge self assessment tool. The median pre and post site visit scores were 12 and 31 (P < .001) respectively. The mentors' post site visit scores of their apprentices (median 29, P = .07) did not significantly differ from the apprentices' post site visit scores. The results of this preliminary evaluation suggest that the RT mentoring program has achieved its short-term goal of increasing CF-specific knowledge among RTs relatively new to CF care.