Support and faculty mentoring programmes for medical students in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
OBJECTIVE
To study what is being done at German-speaking universities regarding the counselling and tutoring of students, we carried out a survey among the deans of medical faculties in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Our main concern was if any such projects were already available to the medical student or whether efforts to this purpose were under way.


METHODS
We focused in particular on faculty mentoring programmes, a continuous tutoring by designated members of the faculty on a person-to-person basis.


METHODS
German, Austrian and Swiss medical faculties.


METHODS
Medical faculty deans.


RESULTS
The return rate was 80%. While general student counselling is, if required, available at nearly all of the faculties, faculty mentoring programmes are offered by only 36.1% of the medical schools, and individualized career counselling by 30.6%.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to other countries, such as the United Kingdom or the United States, counselling and tutoring programmes, e.g. career planning or faculty mentoring, are not generally available to the German medical student. Regional differences are evident, which can be attributed to differences in the universities' legal and financial situation. The medical faculties at German-speaking universities should make it their priority to offer these services to the student on a permanent basis.
Woessner
R
R
Faculty of Medicine, University of the Saarland, D-66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany.
Honold
M
M
Stehr
S N
SN
Steudel
W I
WI
D001317:Austria; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors; D013557:Switzerland; D014830:Vocational Guidance