title: Effects of Mentoring Speed Dating as an Innovative Matching Tool in Undergraduate Medical Education: A Mixed Methods Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Choosing the right mentor is crucial for effective mentorship. Yet, many medical students have difficulties finding a suitable mentor. Thus we developed mentoring speed dating (MSD) as a promising matching tool to connect students and faculty mentors successfully. The purpose of this study was to explore mentees' and mentors' experience with MSD and investigate the impact of MSD on the perceived mentorship quality and continuance of the mentoring relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors completed a mixed methods study at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany, between June 2011 and March 2014. They conducted four focus groups with mentees and mentors who participated in a mentoring speed dating event and analyzed transcripts using conventional content analysis with inductive categorizing. In addition, three mentoring cohorts (two matched via MSD, one matched via conventional online profiles) were surveyed on mentorship satisfaction and the 1-year continuance of their mentorship was monitored. Fifteen mentees and fifteen mentors participated in the focus groups. The authors identified several themes such as short and long term benefits of MSD and fulfillment of expectations. Benefits included finding out about the personal connection, matching expectations, providing an efficient overview of candidates. The survey was completed by 93 students (n = 29 without MSD; n = 64 with MSD). Independent t-tests and multivariate analysis of variance were used to analyze the impact of MSD on student's mentorship satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences in responses to the items "Commitment of mentor" (p = .019) and "Constructive feedback" (p = .038) among the students who attended MSD and the students without MSD. After one year far more mentoring relationships existed among those mentees who participated in MSD in comparison to the "no MSD group".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MSD is a valuable matching tool with beneficial effects on the mentorship quality. It enhances essential factors in the mentoring relationship such as commitment and satisfaction.
authors: Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Guse
authors: Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Schweigert
authors: Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Gerhild
authors: G
authors: Kulms
authors: Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Ines
authors: I
authors: Heinen
authors: Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Martens
authors: Dean's Office of Education and Students' Affairs, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.|Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Andreas H
authors: AH
authors: Guse
mesh_terms: D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires