Hospital residents’ perception of mentorship as influencing clinical leadership: a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews

Abstract

Background: In this study, we explored how doctors in training perceive mentorship and leadership and whether they believed that mentoring influences the development of leadership skills. The study also addressed whether certain leadership styles lend themselves better to mentoring. Methods: A qualitative research method was employed in this study and ethical approval was granted by the Research Ethics Committee (REC) at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), after which twelve hospital residents were recruited using purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted by the authors and thematic data analysis was performed. Results: Three themes emerged and were later refined, using Braun and Clarke’s 2006 thematic analysis method: 1. Purpose of mentorship, with sub themes: a. Expectations, b. Perception of mentorship as supervision, and c. The role of mentorship, including informal mentoring in leadership development 2. Role of mentorship in leadership development. 3. Perceptions of a leader, with sub-themes: a. The leader as a manager, b. The leader as a role model, and c. The merits of different leadership styles. Discussion: Most of the residents (doctors in training) viewed mentorship in a positive way. However, when the mentor was perceived more as a supervisor, the usefulness of mentoring was less clear. However, they found that informal mentoring would contribute to leadership skills and would inspire them to become leaders themselves. They were likely to be influenced positively when they saw the leader as a role model, rather than a manager.