Mentoring of young professionals in the field of rheumatology in Europe: results from an EMerging EUlar NETwork (EMEUNET) survey

OBJECTIVES To explore perceptions of, participation in and satisfaction with mentoring programmes among young clinicians and researchers in rheumatology in Europe. To identify mentoring needs and expectations focusing on gender-specific differences. METHODS A survey on mentoring in rheumatology was distributed to young clinicians and researchers in rheumatology in Europe through the EMEUNET network. RESULTS We received 248 responses from 30 European countries. Although 82% of respondents expressed the need for a formal mentoring scheme by EULAR, only 35% participated in mentoring programmes and merely 20% were very satisfied with mentoring. Respondents very satisfied with mentoring were more likely to participate in research, but not clinical mentoring programmes. Career mentoring was perceived as the most beneficial type of mentoring for career development by 46% of respondents, only 35% of respondents, however, declared the existence of career mentoring programmes in their country. There was no gender difference considering participation in mentoring programmes. Women, however, tended to be less satisfied than men with existing mentoring programmes and considered expectations from mentoring as more important for their career development, especially when pertaining to career planning, greater autonomy/responsibility and establishing new networks/collaborations. CONCLUSIONS Career mentoring, especially in the clinical setting, was recognised as a major unmet need of existing mentoring programmes in rheumatology in Europe. Gender-specific differences were identified in the expectations from mentoring. Given this and the importance of mentoring for career prosperity of young physicians and scientists, our survey represents the first step towards developing and refining mentoring programmes in rheumatology in Europe