The Sibs Program: A Structured Peer-Mentorship Program to Reduce Burnout for First-Year Medical Students
Gabriel Arenas1, Gregory Brisson2
1The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.
Mededpublish (2016)
|December 7, 2023
Summary
A structured peer-mentorship program for first-year medical students (M1s) significantly reduced anxiety and improved prioritization and work-life balance awareness. Second-year medical students (M2s) also benefited from enhanced mentoring skills.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Student Well-being
- Mentorship Programs
Background:
- First-year medical students (M1s) face significant stress and burnout risks.
- Existing resources may not adequately address M1 stress factors.
- Peer mentorship offers a potential avenue for support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a structured peer-mentorship program on M1 well-being.
- To assess the effect on M1 anxiety, prioritization, and work-life balance.
- To determine the program's influence on the mentoring skills of second-year medical students (M2s).
Main Methods:
- A structured peer-mentorship program paired M1s with M2s.
- M1s were surveyed on anxiety, prioritization, and work-life balance.
- M2s from a previous unstructured program served as a control group.
- 164 M1s and 164 M2s participated.
Main Results:
- Structured mentorship significantly reduced M1 anxiety (p<0.01).
- M1s demonstrated improved prioritization skills (p<0.01).
- M1s showed greater awareness of work-life balance importance (p<0.01).
- M2s reported neutral-to-agreeable confidence in mentoring abilities.
Conclusions:
- Structured peer mentorship effectively mitigates anxiety and enhances skills in first-year medical students.
- The program promotes crucial aspects of well-being associated with reduced burnout.
- Peer mentorship also contributes to the professional development of senior medical students.
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