Perspectives of Mentors on Mentoring: A Scoping Review of Benefits and Challenges

Abstract

Introduction

Mentoring is often conceptualized regarding benefits to mentees; however, we must also understand benefits and challenges from the perspectives of mentors. This scoping review describes, and classifies, benefits and challenges of mentoring as described by mentors.

Methods

The authors searched MEDLINE for articles related to mentors' perspectives of challenges and benefits. They applied scoping review procedures for screening abstracts, scrutinizing full texts, and extracting data. Researchers selected qualitative and quantitative empirical articles published prior to July 2023 that included mentors in a medical setting (physicians, residents, dentists, pharmacists, and nurses) providing their perspectives on the challenges or benefits of mentoring.

Results

The search identified 3038 abstracts, which the authors narrowed to 461 for in-depth review. Of these, 93 unique articles fit the inclusion criteria (N = 53 describing challenges and N = 66 articles describing benefits). From these articles, the authors extracted mentor-reported challenges of mentoring, primarily time management/workload, mentor–mentee relationship, lack of ability, information, and resources, bureaucratic issues, and mentee lack of interest/motivation.

Conclusions

Mentor-reported benefits of mentoring include increased skills, satisfaction, generativity/legacy, increased knowledge, professional relationships, and increased confidence. Mentor-reported challenges include time management/workload, mentor–mentee relationship, lack of ability/information/resources, bureaucratic issues, and mentee lack of interest/motivation. These findings highlight the mentor-mentee relationship as a source of both challenges and benefits for mentors. These findings suggest medical centres should engage in mentor training, structured mentorship programs, and structured mentor support to maximize benefits and minimize challenges for mentors.