Experience of a Formal Mentorship Program at Saudi Board Family Medicine Residency Program in Qassim, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Health care institutes started mentorship programs for the professional and social development of trainees and junior health care staff. The objective of the present study was to find the perceptions of mentees and mentors about the process of the mentorship program at Qassim Family Medicine academy. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out among the mentees (60) and mentors (31) affiliated with Family Medicine Academy, Qassim in September 2022. Data was collected using a semi structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed with SPSS. Results: A total of 60 mentees and 31 mentors participated. The majority of mentees opined that the mean number of mentor meetings was 2.76 per year. Mentees perceptions about clear objectives in their meeting was 71.7%, the same percentage (70%) mentioned as opportunity to discuss strengths and weaknesses in the mentor meeting. Sevety-seven percent of the mentors opined that mentee achieved their set targets large extent to fully. The mentees mean overall satisfaction and standard deviation about the mentorship program was 7.5 ± 2.72, mentors overall satisfaction was reported 7.8 ± 1.7 out of 10. Conclusions: Based on the findings, mentors and mentees were overall satisfied with the mentorship program. But, Mentees’ perceptions about social or psychological problems and professional development agreed was nearly fifty percent only. On the other hand, mentors had concerns related to the keenness of mentees for the mentorship meeting. There is a need to focus on these domains in the forthcoming mentorship programs.