Peer mentoring experience on becoming a good doctor: student perspectives
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(2020) 20:494
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Open Access
Peer mentoring experience on becoming a good doctor: student perspectives Mohd Syameer Firdaus Mohd Shafiaai, Amudha Kadirvelu and Narendra Pamidi*
Abstract Background: PASS is a peer-led structured academic mentoring program designed to provide academic assistance for new students in their transition from college to university studies and also for students struggling in certain units. This study aims to establish acquired skills by peer leaders associated with peer-led mentoring via the PASS program, and to explore the role played by these acquired skills in their journey to become a successful doctor. Methods: Study participants were forty selected second-year undergraduate medical students at Monash University Malaysia with commendable examination results. Validated pre-test and post-test questionnaires were administered to explore changes in the level of communication, leadership, professional, and pedagogical skills before and after participation in peer mentoring program. Qualitative analysis of focused group interviews was performed by an independent investigator to identify how the skills developed as a peer mentor may help with becoming a good doctor. Major themes were identified with the thematic-analysis approach. Results: Thirty-eight students completed the pre-test and post-test questionnaires. Peer leaders reported improvement in oral and written skills for teaching; increased confidence to give constructive feedback; better stress management; efficient time management; improved interpersonal skills; and enhanced problem-solving and critical thinking capabilities. Eight major themes were identified from the interview and peer leaders reported positive experience of working in diverse environments and shouldering of responsibilities. Conclusions: Peer-led mentoring provides a good opportunity for medical students to shoulder responsibilities as a leader and offers an experience of managing a team of their peers and juniors which in turn may enhance their communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills. Keywords: Peer mentoring, Peer teaching, Peer to peer teaching, Medical student, Undergraduate, Cohort study
Background The year was 55 BC when the esteemed Roman statesman, Cicero first coined the Latin term, ‘Docere’, which beautifully described the role to teach, to delight and to move. It wasn’t until the thirteen centuries when the world’s oldest university, i.e. the University of Bologna in medieval Europe had first conferred a doctorate degree, which bestowed the holder the rights to teach with the title doctor [1, 2]. Today’s in this modern era, each and * Correspondence: [email protected] Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
every medical doctor plays a role in teaching, be it their peers, their mentees, or their patients. Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) is a peer-led structured academic mentoring program designe
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