A National Survey of Mentoring Practices for Young Investigators in Circulatory and Respiratory Health
Table 2
Status of mentoring practices.
Mentorship characteristics
Clinician versus nonclinician†
Career stage‡
Total ()
Nonclinician ()
Clinician ()
M.S. ()
Ph.D. ()
Postdoctoral ()
New investigator ()
Type of mentor, %
Panel (multiple mentors)
38.2
35.6
31.6
44.6
27.3
44.4
36.6
Single mentor
10.6
13.3
21.1
3.6
10.9
27.8
11.0
Supervisor acts as mentor
72.4
44.4
94.7
73.2
80.0
16.7
65.1
Peer mentor
15.4
20.0
26.3
10.7
12.7
38.9
16.9
No mentor
5.7
8.9
0.0
3.6
1.8
5.6
7.0
Other
4.9
6.7
0.0
3.6
0.0
0.0
1.2
Missing
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Form of mentorship, %
Formal
14.6
8.9
21.1
16.1
10.9
5.6
12.8
Informal
56.1
46.7
42.1
41.1
58.2
77.8
54.1
Mixed
43.1
37.8
63.2
57.1
38.2
11.1
40.7
Mandatory
17.1
6.7
36.8
23.2
7.3
0.0
14.0
No mentor
4.9
8.9
0.0
1.8
3.6
5.6
16.4
Other
0.0
6.7
0.0
3.6
0.0
0.0
1.7
Missing
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Topics discussed with mentor, %
Administrative
35.0
51.1
36.8
30.4
34.5
66.7
38.4
Clinical
4.9
40.0
21.1
14.3
9.1
22.2
14.0
Research
93.5
91.1
94.7
98.2
96.4
94.1
92.4
Teaching/training
51.2
60.0
57.9
60.7
41.8
61.1
52.3
Work-life balance
27.6
44.4
42.1
28.6
30.9
44.4
32.0
Career guidance
59.3
66.7
42.1
66.1
60.0
72.2
60.5
None of the above
4.9
4.4
0.0
0.0
3.6
0.0
2.3
Signed mentoring agreement, %
Yes
17.1
13.3
26.3
16.1
16.4
11.1
15.7
No
82.1
84.4
73.7
82.1
83.6
88.9
83.1
Missing
0.8
2.2
0.0
1.8
0.0
0.0
1.2
Current mentoring program involves, %
Defined goals
45.5
42.2
57.9
50.0
45.5
27.8
43.6
Defined timelines
43.9
35.6
42.1
51.8
43.6
22.2
40.7
Defined commitments for the mentor
28.5
20.0
42.1
30.4
29.1
5.6
25.6
Defined commitments for the trainee
38.2
28.9
52.6
35.7
41.8
16.7
34.9
Defined frequency and nature of interaction with the mentor
23.6
28.9
42.1
28.6
16.4
22.2
24.4
None of the above
35.0
35.6
26.3
30.4
32.7
50.0
36.6
Missing
1.6
0.0
0.0
1.8
0.0
0.0
1.2
Participant is a mentor for other trainees, %
Yes
68.3
57.8
36.8
60.7
78.2
61.1
65.7
No
28.5
42.2
57.9
37.5
21.8
38.9
32.0
Missing
3.3
0.0
5.3
1.8
0.0
0.0
2.3
M.S.: Master’s student; Ph.D.: doctoral student. Stratified by clinical background and career stage so that columns are not mutually exclusive. Rows are not mutually exclusive; respondents may have checked off more than one form of mentorship, thereby causing the rows (totals) to be >100%. †4 participants did not specify whether or not they were clinicians. ‡24 participants did not specify their career stage or marked their career stage as “other.” Within 60 months of first academic appointment.
