Allan Stolarski1, Sarah Carlson1, Brad Oriel1, Patrick O'Neal1, Edward Whang2, Gentian Kristo3. 1. Department of Surgery, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts. 2. Department of Surgery, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. 3. Department of Surgery, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: gentian.kristo@va.gov.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the challenges faced by surgical trainees during their internship and to explore their experience with mentoring. DESIGN: An internet-based survey comprised of 30 questions was distributed to 59 surgical interns to evaluate their internship experience at the conclusion of the academic year 2018 to 2019. SETTING: Four academic medical centers in Boston, Massachusetts. PARTICIPANTS: Both preliminary as well as categorical general surgery interns were included in the study. Twenty-five responses were received (response rate of 42.4%). RESULTS: The majority of surgical interns (80%) reported having a mentor during their intern year. Gender as well as mentor career status/prestige were both the highest rated factors in selection of a mentor, (4.67/5 and 4.33/5 respectively). Mentoring topics varied by the career status of the mentor, with most surgical interns (80%) selecting senior faculty members for mentoring on career planning, clinical training, and research. Surgical interns relied only on junior faculty members to discuss work-life integration. Very few surveyed interns (only 1 in 10) discussed work-life integration with their mentors despite this being reported as the most significant challenge of their internship year. Only 15% of the interns reported that the effectiveness of the mentor-mentee relationship was reviewed by program administration. About one third (30%) of interns reported that they would not feel comfortable reporting a failed mentorship to their program director. Furthermore, 40% of the surgical interns were not given an option to choose a new mentor in case of failed mentoring. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical interns report high work demands and challenges with worklife integration in their first year of surgical training, however only a small minority of interns discuss this with their mentors. Surgical residency programs should better supervise and adjust mentoring of surgical interns in order to maximize their performance and wellness.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the challenges faced by surgical trainees during their internship and to explore their experience with mentoring. DESIGN: An internet-based survey comprised of 30 questions was distributed to 59 surgical interns to evaluate their internship experience at the conclusion of the academic year 2018 to 2019. SETTING: Four academic medical centers in Boston, Massachusetts. PARTICIPANTS: Both preliminary as well as categorical general surgery interns were included in the study. Twenty-five responses were received (response rate of 42.4%). RESULTS: The majority of surgical interns (80%) reported having a mentor during their intern year. Gender as well as mentor career status/prestige were both the highest rated factors in selection of a mentor, (4.67/5 and 4.33/5 respectively). Mentoring topics varied by the career status of the mentor, with most surgical interns (80%) selecting senior faculty members for mentoring on career planning, clinical training, and research. Surgical interns relied only on junior faculty members to discuss work-life integration. Very few surveyed interns (only 1 in 10) discussed work-life integration with their mentors despite this being reported as the most significant challenge of their internship year. Only 15% of the interns reported that the effectiveness of the mentor-mentee relationship was reviewed by program administration. About one third (30%) of interns reported that they would not feel comfortable reporting a failed mentorship to their program director. Furthermore, 40% of the surgical interns were not given an option to choose a new mentor in case of failed mentoring. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical interns report high work demands and challenges with worklife integration in their first year of surgical training, however only a small minority of interns discuss this with their mentors. Surgical residency programs should better supervise and adjust mentoring of surgical interns in order to maximize their performance and wellness.