The mentoring needs of trainees in family practice

This qualitative study examined medical students' and family practice residents' ideas, perceptions, and experiences of being mentored and their expectations of the mentoring experience. Eight focus groups and 16 individual interviews were used to collect data from 49 medical students and 29 family practice residents. Interviews and focus groups were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. The analysis was iterative and interpretive, using both individual and team analyses. The analysis of the data revealed two central but related themes. The first theme reflected participants' overall experiences with mentors composed of three distinct elements: mentor roles (e.g. coach, advisor) and attributes (e.g. openness and approachability), interactions with mentors, and early exposure to family practice mentors (e.g. observing patient encounters). The second theme explicated the trainees' specific learning needs to be addressed by mentors that were categorised into three distinct yet overlapping levels: 1 practice level (i.e. guidance regarding the logistics of practice management) 2 system level (i.e. knowledge about the medical community as well as community resources) 3 personal level (i.e. guidance in balancing personal and professional responsibilities). Having the option of selecting multiple mentors to address unique aspects of the mentees' personal and professional development is critical in respecting the evolutionary nature and fluidity of the mentoring experience.