Center of Education and Training, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Room number HB 4.04; Internal mail no HB 4.05, P.O. Box 85500, Utrecht, 3508 GA, Netherlands.
BMC Med Educ. 2024 Oct 10;24(1):1121. doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-06107-5.
Translational researchers (TRs) fulfill various roles across clinical, educational, and research domains with the ultimate goal of positively impacting patients. Mentorship has been recognized as an important means of career support for TRs, particularly when navigating the complex translational research pipeline and adapting to evolving roles. In response, the Erasmus + PATHWAY project developed and piloted an extra-curricular online preparatory course and mentorship program in 2019 and 2020 to help TRs build mentorship skills, develop their careers, and create online peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
To assess the pilot online mentorship program, a longitudinal exploratory mixed method study was conducted.
Mentees and mentors from both years reported that they joined the program to learn mentorship skills, gain career support, and expand their (international) network. Analysis of evaluation forms indicated that the online preparatory course was evaluated largely positively, with participants suggesting improvements for future iterations. Results of a follow-up survey in 2022 revealed that mentorship was considered helpful in supporting TRs' work in translational research, and an online mentorship program was useful, provided it included interactive online training, multiple mentee-mentor matching rounds, compatible time zones and professional experience for matched pairs, active program moderation with offline activities, and effective online tools.
This study revealed the mentorship needs of TRs and their recommendations for international online mentorship. The innovative PATHWAY program's online format, mentee-driven matching, and preparatory training for both mentees and mentors contribute to the development of mentorship for the general translational community that could potentially have broader applications, especially in a post-COVID-19 environment.
转化研究人员（TRs）在临床、教育和研究领域发挥着各种作用，其最终目标是对患者产生积极影响。指导已被公认为 TRs 职业支持的重要手段，尤其是在探索复杂的转化研究管道和适应不断变化的角色时。为此，Erasmus + PATHWAY 项目于 2019 年和 2020 年开发并试点了一门课外在线预备课程和指导计划，以帮助 TRs 建立指导技能，发展他们的职业，并创建在线同行学习机会。
为了评估试点在线指导计划，进行了一项纵向探索性混合方法研究。
来自两年的学员和导师都报告说，他们加入该计划是为了学习指导技能、获得职业支持和扩大他们的（国际）网络。对评估表的分析表明，在线预备课程的评价总体上是积极的，参与者建议对未来的迭代进行改进。2022 年的后续调查结果表明，指导被认为有助于支持 TRs 在转化研究中的工作，并且在线指导计划是有用的，前提是它包括互动在线培训、多轮学员-导师匹配、匹配对的兼容时区和专业经验、具有离线活动的积极计划管理以及有效的在线工具。
本研究揭示了 TRs 的指导需求及其对国际在线指导的建议。创新的 PATHWAY 计划的在线格式、学员驱动的匹配以及学员和导师的预备培训有助于为一般转化社区发展指导，这可能具有更广泛的应用，尤其是在 COVID-19 之后的环境中。
