Mentoring in the healthcare system: problems and prospects

BACKGROUND: During the rapid development of science and medical technologies, the professional environment faces the urgent task of finding mechanisms to increase the professional competencies and practical skills of medical specialists in the process of professional socialization. The sociological study conducted by the authors focused on identifying factors of successful/unsuccessful professional socialization of young medical specialists, including mentoring.

AIM: Determining the role of the mentoring institution as a factor influencing the success/failure of professional socialization of medical specialists.

METHODS: A survey was conducted among clinical residents of the Far Eastern State Medical University. A total of 184 respondents were interviewed using a Google form questionnaire. Methods of analysis, comparison, generalization of obtained data, analysis of regulatory documents, survey results, and secondary data from sociological research were used. Descriptive statistics methods provided by SPSS and EXCEL software were used at the level of data processing and work with source material.

RESULTS: The sociological study identified the most pressing problems of introducing and implementing mentoring practices in the healthcare system. It also determined the role of the mentoring institution as a socializing factor influencing the success/failure of professional socialization of medical specialists. The study formulates tasks for further research into the process of professional socialization of medical specialists, focusing on identifying positive and destructive factors and the role of socialization institutions.

CONCLUSION: Problems in implementing mentoring practices in healthcare relate to the low mentoring activity of practicing medical specialists. A special need for mentoring practices was identified at the stage of postgraduate training (clinical residency) by 83% of respondents and at the stage of starting independent professional work by 61% of respondents. Respondents expressed a positive attitude towards mentoring in healthcare: 90% indicated that having a mentor when obtaining a medical specialty is mandatory.