Developing mentorship in a resource-limited context: a qualitative research study of the experiences and perceptions of the makerere university student and faculty mentorship programme
Abstract Background The aim of mentorship is to build the mentees capacity, enhance their skills and improve their ability to produce desired outcomes. However, the mentoring relationship is vulnerable to a number of challenges that may undermine its effectiveness and sustainability. We aimed to exp...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-017-0962-8 |
| _version_ | 1819114655841255424 |
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| author | Andrew S. Ssemata Sophia Gladding Chandy C. John Sarah Kiguli |
| author_facet | Andrew S. Ssemata Sophia Gladding Chandy C. John Sarah Kiguli |
| author_sort | Andrew S. Ssemata |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The aim of mentorship is to build the mentees capacity, enhance their skills and improve their ability to produce desired outcomes. However, the mentoring relationship is vulnerable to a number of challenges that may undermine its effectiveness and sustainability. We aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of student and junior faculty mentees and senior faculty mentors at the Makerere University College of Health Sciences and identify the key factors defined by mentees and mentors as necessary for a successful mentorship program. Methods A qualitative design involving focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KII) was used. A total of eight KII and four FGDs were conducted, audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Open coding of the transcripts was performed, and major themes were identified through multiple readings based on thematic analysis. Results Six key themes were shared by the mentees and mentors including: 1) defining the role of the mentor; 2) desired characteristics of a mentor and a mentoring relationship, with an emphasis on mutual trust and respect; 3) overlapping roles of mentors and supervisors; 4) issues with the process for identifying mentors, including the benefits and drawbacks of the mentee selecting mentor vs. being assigned a mentor; 5) current barriers to mentoring, including lack of knowledge about current program, lack of formal structure, uncertainly about who should initiate relationship, and unclear roles and expectations and 6) recommendations for the future development of mentoring programme, including the need for a formalized programme, and training adapted to the local context. Conclusions The mentees and mentors described the role of the mentor and desired characteristics of mentors and a mentoring relationship similarly. Most concerns about mentoring occurred when current mentoring programmes and practices were not well aligned with these desired characteristics. Recommendations for future development of mentoring included greater formalization of mentoring with mentoring programmes based on shared expectations and adapted to the local context. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:48:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3b55bd84bfcb4f1aa7e993096744e852 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:48:45Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-3b55bd84bfcb4f1aa7e993096744e8522022-12-21T18:38:32ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202017-07-011711910.1186/s12909-017-0962-8Developing mentorship in a resource-limited context: a qualitative research study of the experiences and perceptions of the makerere university student and faculty mentorship programmeAndrew S. Ssemata0Sophia Gladding1Chandy C. John2Sarah Kiguli3Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityDepartment of Medicine, University of MinnesotaRyan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Disease and Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana UniversityDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityAbstract Background The aim of mentorship is to build the mentees capacity, enhance their skills and improve their ability to produce desired outcomes. However, the mentoring relationship is vulnerable to a number of challenges that may undermine its effectiveness and sustainability. We aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of student and junior faculty mentees and senior faculty mentors at the Makerere University College of Health Sciences and identify the key factors defined by mentees and mentors as necessary for a successful mentorship program. Methods A qualitative design involving focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KII) was used. A total of eight KII and four FGDs were conducted, audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Open coding of the transcripts was performed, and major themes were identified through multiple readings based on thematic analysis. Results Six key themes were shared by the mentees and mentors including: 1) defining the role of the mentor; 2) desired characteristics of a mentor and a mentoring relationship, with an emphasis on mutual trust and respect; 3) overlapping roles of mentors and supervisors; 4) issues with the process for identifying mentors, including the benefits and drawbacks of the mentee selecting mentor vs. being assigned a mentor; 5) current barriers to mentoring, including lack of knowledge about current program, lack of formal structure, uncertainly about who should initiate relationship, and unclear roles and expectations and 6) recommendations for the future development of mentoring programme, including the need for a formalized programme, and training adapted to the local context. Conclusions The mentees and mentors described the role of the mentor and desired characteristics of mentors and a mentoring relationship similarly. Most concerns about mentoring occurred when current mentoring programmes and practices were not well aligned with these desired characteristics. Recommendations for future development of mentoring included greater formalization of mentoring with mentoring programmes based on shared expectations and adapted to the local context.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-017-0962-8MentorshipMenteeMentorStudentsFacultySupervision |
| spellingShingle | Andrew S. Ssemata Sophia Gladding Chandy C. John Sarah Kiguli Developing mentorship in a resource-limited context: a qualitative research study of the experiences and perceptions of the makerere university student and faculty mentorship programme BMC Medical Education Mentorship Mentee Mentor Students Faculty Supervision |
| title | Developing mentorship in a resource-limited context: a qualitative research study of the experiences and perceptions of the makerere university student and faculty mentorship programme |
| title_full | Developing mentorship in a resource-limited context: a qualitative research study of the experiences and perceptions of the makerere university student and faculty mentorship programme |
| title_fullStr | Developing mentorship in a resource-limited context: a qualitative research study of the experiences and perceptions of the makerere university student and faculty mentorship programme |
| title_full_unstemmed | Developing mentorship in a resource-limited context: a qualitative research study of the experiences and perceptions of the makerere university student and faculty mentorship programme |
| title_short | Developing mentorship in a resource-limited context: a qualitative research study of the experiences and perceptions of the makerere university student and faculty mentorship programme |
| title_sort | developing mentorship in a resource limited context a qualitative research study of the experiences and perceptions of the makerere university student and faculty mentorship programme |
| topic | Mentorship Mentee Mentor Students Faculty Supervision |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-017-0962-8 |
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