Knowledge and Practice of Mentoring in Residency Training Programme in Family Medicine in Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: To ascertain the level, sources of knowledge and practice of mentorship in family medicine residency training programme in Nigeria.

Method: A cross sectional descriptive and inferential study at a national workshop in June 2011.

Result: The mean age of respondents was (mean±SD) 34.35±4.5 years, while the mean ±SD year in residency programme was 3.14±1.655 years. The most frequent source of information about mentoring was personal reading (64 of 172 or 37.2%). Fewer respondents (46.5%) had knowledge of mentoring, which depended on years spent in residency (X2=24.605, df=6, p=0.000); older age (X2=44.680, df=9, p=0.000); working in public hospital (X2=15.662, df=3, p=0.001); having previous training in mentoring (X2=19.900, df=3, p=0.000); and personal experience in mentoring (X2=25.254, df=3, p=0.000). Choice of mentor was the most frequent constraint in the implementation of mentoring, which depended on age of subjects (X2=33.578, df=12, p = 0.001); previous training in mentoring (X2=30.074, df=4, p=0.000); and gender i.e. male (X2=13.337, df=4, p=0.010). In conclusion, the level of formal training and knowledge in mentoring among residents in family medicine was very low with a majority having no experience as mentees. Personal reading was the most frequent source of information of mentorship, while mentoring was perceived to improve performance. The single most frequently perceived constraints in the implementation of mentoring was the selection of mentor.

Key Words: Mentoring, Knowledge, Constraints, Implementation, Residency