title: Redesigning a clinical mentoring program for improved outcomes in the clinical training of clerks.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mentorship has been noted as critical to medical students adapting to clinical training in the medical workplace. A lack of infrastructure in a mentoring program might deter relationship building between mentors and mentees. This study assessed the effect of a redesigned clinical mentoring program from the perspective of clerks. The objective was to assess the benefits of the redesigned program and identify potential improvements.
  
  
  METHODS
  A redesigned clinical mentoring program was launched in a medical center according to previous theoretical and practical studies on clinical training workplaces, including the elements of mentor qualifications, positive and active enhancers for mentor-mentee relationship building, the timing of mentoring performance evaluation, and financial and professional incentives. A four-wave web survey was conducted, comprising one evaluation of the former mentoring program and three evaluations of the redesigned clinical mentoring program. Sixty-four fifth-year medical students in clerkships who responded to the first wave and to at least two of the three following waves were included in the study. A structured and validated questionnaire encompassing 15 items on mentor performance and the personal characteristics of the clerks was used. Mixed linear models were developed for repeated measurements and to adjust for personal characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results revealed that the redesigned mentoring program improved the mentors' performance over time for most evaluated items regarding professional development and personal support provided to the mentees.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings serve as an improved framework for the role of the institution and demonstrate how institutional policies, programs, and structures can shape a clinical mentoring program. We recommend the adoption of mentorship schemes for other cohorts of medical students and for different learning and training stages involved in becoming a physician.
authors.affiliation: Department of Education, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.|Department of Otolaryngology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chia-Der
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC; yenju1115@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Blossom Yen-Ju
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.|Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.|Department of Healthcare Administration, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC; cclin@mail.cmuh.org.tw.
authors.forename: Cheng-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Cheng-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D010551:Personality; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012944:Social Support; D013337:Students, Medical; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Taiwan; clerks; clinical mentoring; longitudinal survey; medical student; mentee; mentor; mentoring program