Introduction: During their academic studies, medical students may encounter a variety
of challenging situations. It is no wonder that they have a higher prevalence of poor
mental health than the general population. Mentoring programs have proven useful in
promoting mental health in medical education. The study aimed to explore the perceptions
and experiences of medical students as mentors in a near-peer mentoring program.
Methods: A qualitative study was carried out between March and April 2022 at Semmelweis
University in Budapest, Hungary. Five focus group discussions (FGDs) included 26 medical
students who were enrolled as mentors in the mentoring program. The recordings were
transcribed verbatim and anonymized. An deductive and semantic approach was adopted,
and the data were analyzed with thematic analysis.
Results: Three major themes were identified: professional and personal growth and
reflections on the mentoring experience. Mentors reported growth in social and practical
problem-solving skills, self-confidence, psychosocial benefits, and both personal
and professional development. The program had a great impact on students’ sense of
self-efficacy, self-awareness, perception of their competencies, and adherence to
their boundaries.
Discussion: In conclusion, the mentors strongly emphasized the professional and psychosocial
benefits they perceived while participating in the mentoring program. Therefore, the
experiences obtained during the mentoring are important milestones. Mentoring programs
could greatly improve students both personally and professionally so that later, they
will be the best possible professionals in the field of health care.
