Mentorship perception and experience among pediatric surgical trainees: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Mentorship is essential in surgical education and fosters professional growth, skill development, and career advancement. Despite its recognized importance, structured mentorship remains underdeveloped in pediatric surgical residency programs, particularly in small and specialized fields where limited faculty availability may restrict access to mentorship. This study aimed to measure mentorship prevalence, assess satisfaction, identify barriers to effective mentorship, and explore residents' preferences for structured mentorship models in the Saudi National Pediatric Surgery Residency Program. METHODS: A cross sectional survey was distributed to all residents of the Saudi National Pediatric Surgery Residency Program. The 27 question survey assessed mentorship relationships, satisfaction, perceived benefits, communication preferences, and barriers. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 26.0, with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 41 respondents (80% response rate), 60% were female, and 56% were under 30 years of age. Although 98% recognized the importance of mentorship, only 17 of 41 (41.5%) reported having a mentor. Key barriers included the absence of a structured mentorship program with clear objectives (61%), mentor time constraints (58.5%), and a lack of scheduled meetings (53.6%). Among mentored residents, 12 of 17 (70.5%) were satisfied, and 11 of 17 (64.7%) felt that their mentors provided strong skill development opportunities. CONCLUSION: Significant gaps exist between the perceived value and availability of mentorship in pediatric surgical residency programs. Formalized and structured mentorship programs with clear objectives and regular meetings are crucial for improving mentorship effectiveness. These findings support the development of more structured mentorship frameworks within pediatric surgery training programs.