Mentoring experience and its effects on medical interns

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Career Development
• Mentorship

Background:

• Mentorship is crucial for early-career physicians, aiding personal and professional growth.
• This study examined the mentoring experiences of Korean medical interns.
• The research aimed to inform the development of future mentoring programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mentoring experiences of medical interns in South Korea.
• To evaluate the impact of mentoring on job satisfaction among interns.
• To identify factors influencing mentoring relationships and satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based survey was administered to medical interns at Chonnam National University Hospital in 2011.
• Data collected included mentoring experiences, perceived mentor quality, and job satisfaction.
• Statistical analysis was performed on the responses from 61 participating interns.

Main Results:

• Only 42.6% of interns reported having a mentor, with an average of 2.3 mentors per mentee.
• Mentoring discussions focused on career planning and personal/social concerns.
• Mentor quality was more critical for male mentees, and female interns sought mentors less actively. Job satisfaction differed significantly between mentored and unmentored interns.

Conclusions:

• The low rate of mentoring participation suggests a need for program expansion.
• Mentoring relationships may present unique challenges for female interns.
• Effective mentoring is vital for career planning and enhancing job satisfaction in early medical careers.