Exploring Ontario's Physical Therapy Recent Graduates’ Experience With Resilience in the First Few Years of Clinical Practice

Purpose: This study aims to describe Ontario's recent physical therapy graduates’ experiences with resilience during their transition to independent clinical practice. Method: A cross-sectional web-based survey was developed to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to resilience, to investigate resilience using the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA) and determine factors impacting the RSA. A 7-point Likert scale was used for the RSA and to identify barriers and facilitators to resilience. Results: Sixty-four participants were included in the study. Mean total RSA score was 5.12 out of 7. Those who rated family relationships, peer relationships, and autonomy as barriers rather than facilitators (4.58 vs. 5.30, 4.71 vs. 5.18, 4.71 vs. 5.25, respectively) had significantly lower total resilience scores, as did 2020 graduates compared to other graduates (4.79 vs. 5.25) and physios working in hospitals versus private sector (4.89 vs. 5.28). Conclusions: This study deepens our understanding regarding factors that shape physical therapy recent graduates’ experiences with resilience, such as work setting, autonomy, and relationships with peers and family.