Perceptions and Effect of Mentoring of MBBS Students in a Peripheral Medical College of West Bengal

Surajit Lahiri; Sonali Choudhari; Prianka Mkhopadhyay; Manisha Sarkar

doi:10.51957/Healthline_767_2025

Authors

Surajit Lahiri Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, India Author
Sonali Choudhari Professor & Head, Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education & Research, Wardha, Maharashtra, India Author
Prianka Mukhopadhyay Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Bankura Sammilani Medical College, Bankura, West Bengal, India Author
Manisha Sarkar Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Bankura Sammilani Medical College, Bankura, West Bengal, India Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51957/Healthline_767_2025

Keywords:

Education Medical, Mentoring, Mentors, Stress Psychological, Students Medical

Abstract

Introduction: Various medical colleges of West Bengal have developed ‘Mentoring Program’ offering guidance to students. Objectives: To assess mentees’ and mentors’ perception regarding mentoring during MBBS, to identify the barriers in a mentor-mentee relationship, to observe the effect of mentoring on perceived stress among students and identify association between stress level and socio-demographic profile. Methods: Institution based analytical study (November 2021 - October 2022) where total enumeration of third year students was done (n=183). HESI scale was used for the stress score & association between stress level and socio-demographic profile (chi-square/fisher’s exact test) were done. Results: Majority of the students 151 (82.51%) stated that they were benefitted from the mentoring. Among the benefitted students 35 (23.18%) stated it as academic, 22 (14.57%) as personal and 88 (58.27%) as both. Most of the students felt an ideal mentor should be friendly 161 (87.98%), easily approachable 166 (90.71%), a good listener 144 (78.69%), understandable 148 (80.87%), soft spoken 125 (68.31%), and should guide by valuable suggestions 138 (75.41%). About the barriers in communicating with the mentor 61 (33.33%) stated time constraints as the major barrier. A significant reduction in mean stress scores, from 2.48 (±0.39) before a mentoring program to 2.40 (±0.34) after (p < .005) by HESI scale was seen by paired t-test. Stress was not found to be significant with socio-demographic profile (chi-square/fisher’s exact test). Conclusions: Perception regarding mentoring among the mentors & mentees was found to be positive. Mentoring played a significant role in stress reduction among the students.

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