A Mentorship-Based Surgery Clerkship: A Prospective Study Investigating Student Satisfaction

• Published in: The Journal of surgical research Vol. 295; pp. 41 - 46
• Main Authors: Joel, Marisa, Iosif, Leah, Grenda, Tyler, Tholey, Renee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2024
• Subjects: Clinical Clerkship; General Surgery - education; Humans; Mentors; Mentorship; Modern learner; Prospective Studies; Students, Medical; Surgeons; Surgical clerkship; Surgical clerkship; Mentorship; Modern learner
• ISSN: 0022-4804; 1095-8673; 1095-8673
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.10.005

Interest in general surgery has steadily decreased among medical students due to negative perceptions of surgeons, a lack of meaningful clerkship involvement, and inadequate mentorship. We implemented a novel mentorship-based surgery clerkship (MBSC) in which each student was matched with a resident mentor with the goals of enhancing student learning experience, meaningfulness, and interest in surgery. We hypothesized that students participating in the MBSC would report increased confidence in surgical competencies, exposure to surgical faculty, and positive perception of surgery, with no detriment to clerkship grades. Mentors were instructed to provide the following when asked by the student: (1) weekly feedback; (2) personalized goals; (3) daily cases; (4) specific videos; (5) presentation subjects; (6) operating room skills coaching. A 5-point Likert Scale survey was distributed to the students pre and post clerkship, and median differences in Likert Scale Score pre and post mentorship were compared between mentored and control groups using the unpaired Wilcoxon's test. This was a two-arm, nonrandomized trial comparing traditional curriculum with the mentored program. The total sample size was n = 84. When comparing mentored to control, Wilcoxon's analysis showed greater post clerkship increases in confidence in operating room etiquette (P = 0.03), participating in rounds (P = 0.02), and suturing (P < 0.01). There were greater increases in perceived surgeon compassion (P = 0.04), respectfulness (P < 0.01), and teaching ability (P < 0.01). Median scores for meaningfulness overall (P = 0.01) and as measured as a feeling of positively impacting a patient (P = 0.02) were also increased when comparing mentored to control. More students were encouraged by a surgeon to pursue surgery (P = 0.01) and consider a surgery career themselves (P = 0.02). An MBSC increases meaningfulness, confidence, skills, and exposure in various surgical competencies. Compared to nonmentored students, MBSC students have more positive perceptions of surgeons and are more likely to pursue surgery. •In the traditional format of the general surgery clerkship, students often identify as observers rather than members of the team.•The modern learner values the use of technology, teaching skills with context, providing regular and actionable feedback, and creative and safe learning environments.•A mentorship-based surgical clerkship, centered around the student-resident pair, represents a potential avenue for enhanced student experience in the general surgery clerkship and increased recruitment into the field of general surgery.