Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T21:30:28.737Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Peer mentoring for radiotherapy planning skills development: a pilot study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 January 2015

P. Bridge ,
N. J. Ellemor ,
M. Carmichael  and
G. Gibson
P. Bridge*
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
N. J. Ellemor
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
M. Carmichael
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
G. Gibson
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
*
Correspondence to: Pete Bridge, School of Health Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction

This study aimed to determine the potential role and guidelines for implementation of skill-based peer mentoring for radiotherapy planning education.

Methods

After four weekly mentoring sessions, both Year 3 mentors (n=9) and Year 2 mentees (n=9) were invited to complete a short online questionnaire relating to the impact of the initiative. The tool contained a mixture of Likert-style questions concerning student enjoyment and perceived usefulness of the initiative as well as more qualitative open questions that gathered perceptions of the peer mentoring process, implementation methods and potential future scope.

Results

Several key discussion themes related to benefits to each stakeholder group, challenges arising, improvements and potential future directions. There were high levels of enjoyment and perceived value of the mentoring from both sides with 100% of the 18 respondents enjoying the experience. The informal format encouraged further learning, while mentors reported acquisition of valuable skills and gains in knowledge.

Conclusions

Peer mentoring has a valuable and enjoyable role to play in radiotherapy planning training and helps consolidate theoretical understanding for experienced students. An informal approach allows for students to adopt the most appropriate mentoring model for their needs while providing them with a free space to engender additional discussion.

Keywords

educationpeer mentoringpre-registrationradiotherapy planning
Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 14 , Issue 2 , June 2015 , pp. 171 - 179
Check for updates
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Sambunjak, D, Straus, S E, Marusić, A. Mentoring in academic medicine: a systematic review. J Am Med Assoc 2006; 296 (9): 1103–1115.Google Scholar
2.Feldman, M D, Arean, P A, Marshall, S J, Lovett, M, O’Sullivan, P. Does mentoring matter: results from a survey of faculty mentees at a large health sciences university. Med Educ Online 2010; ■: ■, 15: 10.3402/meo.v15i0.5063.Google Scholar
3.Cho, C S, Ramanan, R A, Feldman, M D. Defining the ideal qualities of mentorship: a qualitative analysis of the characteristics of outstanding mentors. Am J Med 2011; 124 (5): 453–458.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Kalén, S, Ponzer, S, Silén, C. The core of mentorship: medical students' experiences of one-to-one mentoring in a clinical environment. Adv Health Sci Educ 2012; 17 (3): 389–401.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Pololi, L, Knight, S. Mentoring faculty in academic medicine: a new paradigm? J Gen Intern Med 2005; 20 (9): 866–870.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Bussey-Jones, J, Bernstein, L, Higgins, Set al. Repaving the road to academic success: the imerge approach to peer mentoring. Acad Med 2006; 81: 674–679.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Lord, J A, Mourtzanos, E, McLaren, K, Murray, S B, Kimmel, R J, Cowley, D S. A peer mentoring group for junior clinician educators: four years’ experience. Acad Med 2012; 87 (3): 378–383.Google Scholar
8.Hodges, B. Factors that can influence mentorship relationships. Paediatr Nurs 2009; 21 (6): 32–35.Google Scholar
9.Lattanzi, J B, Campbell, S L, Dole, R L, Palombaro, K M. Students mentoring students in a service-learning clinical supervision experience: an educational case report. Phys Ther 2011; 91 (10): 1513–1524.Google Scholar
10.Copley, J, Nelson, A. Practice educator perspectives of multiple mentoring in diverse clinical settings. B J Occup Ther 2012; 75 (10): 456–462.Google Scholar
11.Sims-Giddens, S, Helton, C, Hope, K L. Student peer mentoring in a community-based nursing clinical experience. Nurs Educ Per 2010; 31 (1): 23–27.Google Scholar
12.Rodis, J L, Backo, J, Schmidt, B M, Pruchnicki, M C. Student-peer mentoring on a drug information response. Am J Pharm Educ 2014; 78 (2): 38.Google Scholar
13.Candy, P C, Crebert, R G, O’Leary, J. National Board of Employment Education and Training Commissioned Report no. 28, Developing Lifelong Learners through Undergraduate Education. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service, 1994.Google Scholar
14.Bradley, D, Noonan, P, Nugent, H, Scales, B. Review of Australian higher education: final report. Canberra: DEEWR, 2008.Google Scholar
15.Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia. Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice 2013. http://www.medicalradiationpracticeboard.gov.au/Registration/Professional-Capabilities.aspx. Accessed on 1 December 2014.Google Scholar
16.Nisbet, H, Matthews, S. The educational theory underpinning a clinical workbook for VERT. Radiography 2011; 17 (1): 72–75.Google Scholar
17.Findlay, N, Dempsey, S E, Warren-Forward, H M. Development and validation of reflective inventories: assisting radiation therapists with reflective practice. J Radiother Pract 2011; 10: 3–12.Google Scholar
18.Bridge, P, Carmichael, M. Factors influencing radiation therapy student clinical placement satisfaction. J Med Radiat Sci 2014; 61 (1): 45–50.Google Scholar