The relation between resident mentorship and in-training examination scores: A nation-wide, cross-sectional study in Japan

Background: Mentorship is a dynamic reciprocal relationship, wherein a novice (mentee) grows with the encouragement of an advanced careerist (mentor). It is widely implemented in medical training programs. However, there are few reports on mentorship's educational effects in the Japanese context. This study investigated the association between mentorship and in-training examination scores during a clinical residency program in Japan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Japan, involving first and second year postgraduate (PGY-1 and PGY-2) residents set to take the General Medicine In-Training Examination (GM-ITE) at the end of the academic year of 2021. The GM-ITE, developed by a non-profit organization in 2012, assesses the overall clinical knowledge of PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents. Data on mentorship were obtained through an electronic survey, conducted immediately after the GM-ITE. The association between a resident's self-reported identification of at least one mentor and GM-ITE score was analyzed at multiple levels.

Results: Of the total 4929 residents, 3266 (66.3%) reported having mentors. However, there was no association between mentorship and GM-ITE scores (adjusted score difference [aSD] = -0.22; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: -0.64 to 0.19).

Conclusions: Among Japanese residents, in-training examination scores were not associated with mentorship.