Effectiveness of Mentorships and Early Exposure in Neurosurgery.

Background: Mentorship programs are crucial for continuous medical education, improving personal confidence, knowledge, and skills, and have been associated with staff retention and overall career satisfaction. However, there are limited studies evaluating the effectiveness of mentorship programs in neurosurgery. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of mentorship programs in neurosurgery, focusing on knowledge and skill development, personal growth, and networking opportunities.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the 9th Hoz Neurosurgery Mentorship Program, involving 175 participants from 16 countries. Precourse and postcourse surveys assessed participants' neurosurgical knowledge, research experience, personal abilities, and acknowledgment of neurosurgical subspecialties.
Results: Of the participants, 89% were from Iraq, with the remaining from various countries. Most participants were medical students in their early years. The average neurosurgical knowledge score increased from 35.29/60 precourse to 38.4/60 postcourse. The total passing percentage increased from 71% precourse to 86% postcourse. Prior to the program, 87% of participants had not participated in research projects, and 69% had not presented at scientific meetings. Feedback from the postcourse survey highlighted personal development, leadership, teamwork, public speaking skills, and ethical and moral aspects of being a neurosurgeon.
Conclusions: Mentorship programs are effective in advancing the skills and capabilities of medical students, junior residents, and physicians. Evaluation of their effectiveness should consider not only scientific knowledge but also practical capabilities, personal growth, and critical thinking development. Free-of-charge programs with diverse participants and overall effectiveness make such experiences unique compared to other mentorship opportunities.
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