None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Objective To evaluate the impact of a peer mentoring program for newly qualified interns on psychological wellbeing, and assess the demand for such a program within an Australian hospital setting. Design, Setting and Participants Through a randomised controlled study, interns in a tertiary teaching hospital (Perth, Western Australia) were recruited to be mentees and resident junior doctors were selected to be mentors. Methods and Main Outcome Measure Interns were randomised 1:1 to receive, or not to receive, a mentor. Mentors were recruited. Qualitative outcome data was collected using semi-structured interviews and focus groups at 12 months and used to assess psychosocial wellbeing and job satisfaction. Results Fifty-three interns applied to participate in the program. Twenty-six mentor-mentee pairs were matched. Twenty-seven interns were allocated to not receive a mentor. Through iterative data analysis, the overarching themes concluded the value of the program in aiding navigation through the complex healthcare system while enhancing a sense of community. Participants with mentors reported high satisfaction with a positive impact on stress levels, morale, sense of support, job satisfaction, and psychosocial wellbeing. Conclusion A peer mentoring program enhances junior doctor support structures, builds a sense of community and helps interns navigate their new professional environment. To our knowledge, this is the first research of its kind involving Australian prevocational junior doctors and provides a feasibility model that may be adapted regionally or nationally.
Interventions
Provision of peer mentoring to new interns in a tertiary Australian hospital
Mentoring was provided to new interns by PGY 2 or 3 doctors that had volunteered and been selected as appropriate mentors.
The mentors were provided with information packs and escalation strategies but did not receive specific training.
Mentors were paired 1:1 with mentees and provided informal mentoring over the course of one year (the intern year).
The location, mode of delivery, frequency of meetings or content of
Provision of peer mentoring to new interns in a tertiary Australian hospital Mentoring was provided to new interns by PGY 2 or 3 doctors that had volunteered and been selected as appropriate mentors. The mentors were provided with information packs and escalation strategies but did not receive specific training. Mentors were paired 1:1 with mentees and provided informal mentoring over the course of one year (the intern year). The location, mode of delivery, frequency of meetings or content of meetings was not dictated to the mentors or mentees but left to each individual pairing to determine what was best. No measures of adherence were collected.
Sponsors
Royal Perth Hospital
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
All interns were eligible to participate
Exclusion criteria
Unwilling to participate
Outcome results
None listed