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Exploring mentoring

Board of Medical Education
August 2004

Introduction
The BMA strongly advocates mentoring at all stages of medical education and throughout doctors’ careers. This report stems from a 2003 ARM motion that asks the BMA to lobby for the development of a mentoring system for all doctors and calls on the government to resource this appropriately. The recommendations in this report provide some theoretical and practical support for this motion. Mentoring is a dynamic process. Doctors’ needs change throughout their careers and mentoring can provide relevant and applicable guidance, ideas and advice.

At a time when resources within the medical profession are stretched, both in terms of time and finances, mentoring should be conceptualised within that framework. This report attempts to present mentoring within these limitations and boundaries. It reviews the increasing interest in mentoring on the medical education agenda and presents some insightful research generated through contact with postgraduate deaneries. This report most significantly highlights the need for the continued endorsement of mentoring in terms of resources, development and support. It offers recommendations with supporting evidence.

The BMA supports mentoring. In response to the government’s Modernising medical careers, the BMA promotes mentoring as an essential component of career advice for both medical students and doctors. 'Sign-posting medical careers for doctors' underlines that the current provision of career advice and guidance for doctors is not adequate.

The BMA acknowledges that targeting mentoring schemes towards specific groups can be effective. For example, mentoring can be of great assistance to refugee doctors [Go to note 1]. The BMA’s international committee provides guidance and advice for assisting refugee doctors. In addition, the BMA’s medical students committee policy guide reiterates the importance of mentoring for medical students. It emphasises that mentoring should be available to all medical students for confidential professional and personal advice. The BMA has recently launched a Doctors for Doctors unit. Its remit includes responsibility for helping doctors make informed decisions about their health; facilitating access to appropriate care and supporting doctors through this process. (Email: info.d4d@bma.org.uk)

The BMA is working closely with the Department of Health’s Improving Working Lives (IWL) initiative, which has produced an informative and comprehensive series of documents related to mentoring [Go to note 2]. The work is based on primary research and serves as a valuable resource for both doctors and health professionals. This resource aims to contribute to the notion that mentoring is an important component in the lifelong learning of a doctor.

Summary of recommendations

• Access to mentoring should be encouraged at all levels throughout ones’ medical career.
• Mentoring should be encouraged through structured and flexible frameworks.
• Mentoring should remain voluntary.
• The mentoring process should be continually supported by the relevant organisation/employer.
• The potential advantages associated with mentoring need to be raised so doctors are more willing to participate.
• A wider range of information should be offered to doctors in terms of the potential benefits and limitations of participating in a mentoring scheme.
• Confidentiality should be respected and protected.
• Mentoring should be promoted as one way to improve retention within the profession
• Aims and objectives of mentoring schemes should be clearly defined.
• Specific programmes need to be better targeted.
• Training needs should be met for mentors and mentees.
• Mentoring schemes need to be improved based on feedback and monitoring. Results need to be shared and marketed.

This report is also available from:
BMA science and education department
British Medical Association
BMA House
Tavistock Square
London WC1H 9JP
email: info.science@bma.org.uk

Editorial Board
A publication from the BMA science and education department and the board of medical education

Chairman, board of medical education - Dr Peter Dangerfield
Director of professional activities - Dr Vivienne Nathanson
Head of science and education - Dr Caroline Seddon
Senior policy executive, board of medical education - Elaine Martyn
Research and writing - Dalia Ben-Galim
Editorial secretariat - Darshna Gohil

Board of medical education
The report was prepared under the auspices of the board of medical education of the British Medical Association, whose membership for 2003/2004 was as follows:
Sir Brian Jarman - President, BMA
Dr George Rae - Chairman, BMA representative body
Mr James Johnson - Chairman, BMA council
Dr David Pickersgill - Treasurer, BMA
Dr P H Dangerfield - Chairman, board of medical education
Dr D Sinclair - Deputy chairman, board of medical education
Dr E Atkins
Dr J S Bamrah
Mr B Carrick
Ms D Covey
Professor W Doe
Dr R Feinmann
Dr D Goodsman
Dr D Heyling
Dr A Hibble
Dr J Hyslop
Dr G D Lewis
Professor S Lingam
Mr J Lowry
Dr J Oxley
Professor P Rubin
Dr K Sritharan
Dr J Trowell

Approval for publication as a BMA policy report was recommended by BMA Board of Professional Activities on 22 March 2004.

Footnotes
[1] British Medical Association (2003) Refugee doctors: A BMA briefing paper. Read more here (accessed Jan 2004)

[2] Oxley J, Fleming B, Golding L, Pask H & Steven A (2003) Mentoring for doctors: enhancing the benefit. Improving Working Lives for Doctors. Produced in conjunction with two other working papers. Mentoring for doctors: talking about the experience and Mentoring for doctors: a look at the literature. Read more here - www.ncssd.org.uk/ (accessed May 2004)