Development and Evaluation of a Peer Mentoring Programme for Postgraduate Medical Residents in Pakistan: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objective: To develop, implement, and evaluate the impact of one-year peer mentoring programme for postgraduate medical residents. Study Design: Mixed methods. Place and Duration of the Study: The Aga Khan University, Karachi, from January 2019 to December 2020. Methodology: A survey was administered to junior residents in Medicine, Paediatrics, Pathology, and Radiology residency programmes to identify their academic needs from January 2019 to December 2020. Final-year residents, who served as peer mentors were provided a one-day mentoring workshop, including details of the identified needs. This was followed by one-year intervention in which mentors-men-tees met as per mutual feasibility. A structured survey and focus group discussions were conducted to inquire the effectiveness of mentoring. Results: A total of 33 out of 52 (63%) Year 1 residents completed needs analysis survey. Four essential identified areas were research (63%), memory (59%), reading (55%), and time management (53%). Residents reported excelling in areas of research, memory and reading, however, time management needed improvement. Focus group discussions emphasised mentoring as mandatory, including the wide range of skills. Conclusion: Senior residents should be trained as mentors of juniors, and semi-structured formal and informal mentoring can be implemented across all residency programmes.