Characteristics, attributes, and outcomes of allied health transition to practice programs: A mixed method systematic review

Introduction: Workforce sustainability is critical to equitable and safe healthcare. However, there is evidence of poor transition of new graduates to the workplace, with a resultant loss of health professionals from the system. Globally, little is known about allied health transition and transition interventions. The aims of this mixed-methods systematic review were to describe the characteristics of transition to practice programs for novice allied health professionals, the outcomes from these programs, how they are measured and how transition challenges are addressed in transition programs.

Methods: Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, AMED and the Cochrane Library. Two researchers reviewed the studies and reached a consensus for inclusion through discussion. All study types were included. Articles were evaluated using the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool, with reporting guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

Results: A total of 15 studies were included. Various allied health populations, interventions, timeframes, program content and learning modes were used but with limited description. There was misalignment between allied health graduates’ expectations, practice reality and supports offered within transition programs. While authors reported success from transition interventions, outcomes were not clear and there was a lack of tools for robust outcome measurement.

Conclusion: Well-designed transition programs are needed to build evidence on effective interventions and support. A primary focus should be on developing and measuring well-defined transition outcomes and the longer-term impact of transition programs on career progression and success.