title: E-mentoring for violence and injury prevention: early lessons from a global programme.
abstract: To address the growing burden of violence and injuries, especially in low- and middle-income countries, in 2007 the World Health Organization launched MENTOR-VIP, a global violence and injury prevention (VIP)-mentoring programme. The programme aims to develop human resource capacity through 12-month mentoring arrangements between individual VIP experts (mentors) and less-experienced injury practitioners (mentees). In this paper, we review the first five years of the programme (2007-2011) using a systems analysis and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) frameworks, discuss programme findings and make recommendations. A well-defined programme with clear instructions, successful matching of mentorship pairs with similar interests and language, a formal accord agreement, institutional support and effective communication were identified as programme strengths. Overambitious projects, lack of funds and difficulties with communications were identified as programme weaknesses. Mentorship projects that require institutional permissions or resources could be potential threats to the success of mentorship. The study resulted in the four following recommendations to strengthen the programme: (1) institute additional steps in selection and matching mentor-mentee pair; (2) train mentors on e-mentoring; (3) conduct special orientation for mentees to the programme; and (4) maintain effective and open communication throughout the programme.
authors: a Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit , Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , MD , USA.
authors: Shirin
authors: S
authors: Wadhwaniya
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Meddings
authors: Gopalkrishna
authors: G
authors: Gururaj
authors: Joan
authors: J
authors: Ozanne-Smith
authors: Shanthi
authors: S
authors: Ameratunga
authors: Adnan A
authors: AA
authors: Hyder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057191:Capacity Building / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors / Q000193:education*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011640:Public Policy; D013597:Systems Analysis; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014944:World Health Organization; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: capacity building; injury prevention; mentoring; skill development; violence prevention