Highlights
- •The Big Sibling program provides important mentorship opportunities for students.
- •Students who engaged with their Big Sibling perceived the OR more positively.
- •Students valued the non-evaluative role of the Big Sibling.
- •Research residents did not find the program burdensome.
Abstract
Background
We created a Big Sibling mentorship program for medical students and studied the program
effects.
Methods
Between July 2019 to December 2020, students completing their surgery clerkship were
paired with a Big Sibling surgical research resident. Participation in and perceptions
of the program were assessed by survey.
Results
81 medical students and 25 residents participated with a 79% and 95% survey response
rate, respectively. The most valuable topics discussed included ward skills, personal
development and career advising. Students who interacted >2 times with their Big Sibling
were more likely to perceive the operating room as a positive learning environment,
view attendings as role models, and receive mentoring and feedback from residents
and attendings (p = 0.03, 0.02, 0.01 respectively). 78% of residents thought the program
was a positive experience and no residents found it burdensome.
Conclusion
The Big Siblings program enhances the surgery clerkship learning environment. Students
who engaged with their Big Sibling had a more positive view of the clerkship and the
mentorship provided by residents and attendings.
Graphical abstract
Graphical Abstract
Keywords
Abbreviations:
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 18, 2022
Accepted:
July 14,
2022
Received in revised form:
June 19,
2022
Received:
May 4,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
