Evaluating a Family Medicine Residency Mentorship Program in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Mentorship is a key element of postgraduate medical training, offering academic, professional, and psychosocial support that positively influences trainee success and wellbeing. Understanding both mentor and mentee perspectives is crucial to enhancing mentorship programs.

To evaluate the mentorship experience of mentors and mentees in the Family Medicine Residency Program in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and identify strengths and areas for improvement.

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from September to December 2023 across Family Medicine Training Centers in Riyadh. We used an online self-administered questionnaire to collect data on demographics, prior mentoring experience, perceived support, mentor qualities, and satisfaction. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) v21.0 with descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to explore associations.

Of 183 participants (84 mentees, 99 mentors), 70.2% of mentees and 65.7% of mentors reported satisfaction with their mentoring experience. Both groups identified clinical rotations, exam preparation, and problem solving as the higher areas of support. Mentees reported lower support in work-life balance (45.2%) and emotional/psychological wellbeing (41.7%). Good communication and trustworthiness were the most valued mentor qualities. Female mentees were significantly more comfortable discussing difficult issues (P = 0.045). While 73.3% of mentors believed their role positively impacted mentees' development, only 44.4% felt they had sufficient time for mentoring.

The program demonstrates strengths in overall satisfaction and academic support but shows gaps in emotional and holistic support. Recommendations include structured mentor training, protected time, gender-sensitive approaches, and regular feedback to enhance program effectiveness.