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Article
It begins with the right supervisor: Importance of mentorship and clinician-investigator trainee satisfaction levels in Canada
Clinical and Investigative Medicine
  • Ju Yoon Yoon, University of Manitoba
  • Tom Appleton, Western University
  • Matthew J. Cecchini, Western University
  • Rohann J. Correa, Western University
  • Veronique D. Ram, University of Calgary
  • Xin Wang, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine
  • Enoch Ng, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine
  • Mark Speechley, Western University
  • Jared T. Wilcox, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2013
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.25011/cim.v36i6.20623
Abstract

Purpose: Clinician Investigator Trainee Association of Canada/Association des clinicienschercheurs en formation du Canada (CITAC/ACCFC) represents the interests of clinician-investigator (CI) trainees across Canada. To better advocate for the successful training of CI trainees in Canada, CITAC/ACCFC conducted a survey to assess satisfaction with their training and to find what factors were most associated with satisfaction level. Methods: A nominal scale-based psychometric survey was conducted online in 2009 on CI trainees in Canada (including MD/MSc, MD/PhD, or CIP/SSP). One hundred fifteen out of a target population of approximately 350-400 responded. Survey respondents were asked to rate their level of satisfaction in four areas: 1) quality of training, 2) financial support, 3) mentorship satisfaction and 4) program structure. Ratings in these four areas were also combined to produce a measure of overall satisfaction. Results: At least half of the respondents were 'completely satisfied' in each of the four categories other than mentorship. While 98% of respondents considered mentorship as important to their success, 62% expressed some level of dissatisfaction with the level of mentorship received. Moreover, increased levels of mentorship were strongly associated with increased levels of overall satisfaction. Conclusion: The discrepancy between CI trainees' perceived importance of mentorship and the level of satisfaction in mentorship received reveals a strategic area where CI training should be improved. Recognizing that good mentorship in a CI training program ofien begins with one's research supervisor, the CITAC/ACCFC has compiled six specific recommendations for finding a good supervisor. © 2013 CIM.

Notes

Article is openly available from the journal

Citation Information
Ju Yoon Yoon, Tom Appleton, Matthew J. Cecchini, Rohann J. Correa, et al.. "It begins with the right supervisor: Importance of mentorship and clinician-investigator trainee satisfaction levels in Canada" Clinical and Investigative Medicine Vol. 36 Iss. 6 (2013)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/tom-appleton/12/