Peer Mentoring by Medical Students for Medical Students: A Scoping Review
Author Information
Author(s): Preovolos Christos, Grant Abby, Rayner Morgan, Fitzgerald Kylie, Ng Louisa
Primary Institution: Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Hypothesis
What are the benefits and challenges of medical student peer mentoring programs and what are the elements associated with their success?
Conclusion
Peer mentoring programs where medical students mentor other medical students provide benefits, including improving psychosocial wellbeing and academic development.
Supporting Evidence
- Mentors and mentees reported psychosocial, professional, and academic benefits.
- Essential elements for successful mentoring included matching, orientation, and clear goals.
- Social congruence was crucial for effective peer mentoring, especially for under-represented groups.
- Challenges included balancing mentor load and logistical issues.
Takeaway
Medical students can help each other by being mentors, which makes them feel better and do better in school.
Methodology
A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, mapping existing literature on peer mentoring programs for medical students.
Potential Biases
All included studies had significant methodological weaknesses, such as lack of randomisation, blinding, and control groups.
Limitations
The review faced challenges in developing a search strategy due to the absence of 'mentoring' as a MeSH term and significant methodological weaknesses in included studies.
Participant Demographics
The review included 20 studies with a total of 4591 participants, primarily medical students from various year levels.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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