Table 3.
Residents' Responses About Mentoring Relationships*
| Characteristic | Number (%) With Affirmative Response |
|---|---|
| Among all residents (n=329) | |
| Satisfaction with Mentorship | |
| Resident reports a current or prior mentor during residency | 184 (56) |
| Resident reports satisfaction with mentoring (among all residents, n=329) | 137 (42) |
| Resident reports satisfaction with mentoring (among mentored residents, n=184) | 111 (60) |
| Initiation of mentorship among mentored residents | |
| Mentor was assigned to resident | 92 (50) |
| Relationship was initiated by resident | 78 (42) |
| Relationship was initiated by mentor | 14 (8) |
| Frequency of contact with mentor | |
| At least once each week | 27 (15) |
| At least once a month | 56 (30) |
| At least twice a year | 75 (41) |
| Once a year | 19 (10) |
| Never | 6 (3) |
| No response | 1 (<1) |
| Among residents with a mentor (n=184) | |
| Positive aspects of mentoring | |
| Mentor was important to professional development | 129 (70) |
| My mentor keeps in touch regarding my progress | 112 (61) |
| Mentor provided counsel on career decisions | 113 (61) |
| Mentor provides thoughtful advice on clinical work | 112 (61) |
| Mentor was important to personal development | 104 (57) |
| I have a meaningful personal relationship with mentor | 95 (52) |
| Mentor provides thoughtful advice on research | 69 (38) |
| Mentor helped me find a position after residency | 59 (32) |
| Mentor helped me deal with disappointment/failure | 46 (25) |
| Negative aspects of mentoring | |
| I am not comfortable discussing important issues with my mentor | 45 (25) |
| I feel like I am imposing on my mentor | 26 (14) |
| My mentor is disrespectful toward my interests and work | 3 (2) |
| My mentor has taken advantage of my time/abilities | 1 (<1) |
| Barriers to seeking mentorship among residents without a mentor (n=145)† | |
| I never thought about approaching someone | 72 (50) |
| I am afraid to approach someone | 37 (26) |
| I have enough guidance for my decisions | 34 (23) |
| I have not met someone whom I trust | 28 (19) |
| I don't feel I need a mentor | 19 (13) |
| No one has similar professional interests | 18 (12) |
| No one has similar personal interests | 15 (10) |
*
Total may not equal 100% due to either nonresponse or multiple responses.
†
Total exceeds 100% due to multiple responses.