Background Medical and nursing literature identify several benefits of mentoring in improving Interprofessional Education (IPE) and practice.1–3 This review analyses available literature aiming to specifically address the potential of integrating intra-professional mentoring programmes within an interdisciplinary context to improve patient care delivery.4

Method A literature search was conducted using the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases. Search terms: IPE and mentoring; healthcare. Exclusion-criteria: individual mentoring programmes without IPE. Ethics approval was not required.

Results The search identified substantial evidence around IPE and practice, however relatively few (n=28) studies associated these specifically to mentoring. Of these, eleven met the inclusion-criteria (n=2/11, Cochrane reviews).1–11 These demonstrated overall positive outcomes correlating mentoring and interprofessional working.1–11 However, the limited number makes it difficult to draw generalizable inferences.

Discussion The General Medical Council (GMC) recognises the mentoring benefits in ensuring safe and efficient patient care.5 Nursing literature also links mentoring to greater career success and improved stress management. 1–3 The limitation remains understanding its significance and wider impact on multidisciplinary team (MDT) working in real-time. How can the current intra-professional mentoring programmes be tailored to incorporate an interprofessional dimension? The enhanced programme would support an integrated leadership model, e.g. cross-mentoring between professionals. In conclusion, the proposed future research, a pilot study, would aim to evaluate (through feedback) the value of interprofessional mentoring in real-time clinical practice and patient care. Further analysing their effectiveness, impact factor and overall benefits in collaboration with organisations such as the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and others.