A mixed-methods assessment of the Australasian Society of Genetic Counselors (ASGC) Mentor Program
Purpose: In Australia and New Zealand, one third of genetic counselors have less than 5 years’ experience. Sharing experienced practitioners’ professional knowledge is needed as the profession grows. Formal mentoring is an important facilitator of career progression and shared knowledge. In 2022, th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Genetics in Medicine Open |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949774424010112 |
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| author | Holly Canton Rebecca Macintosh Joanna Sweeting Helen Mountain Jodie Ingles Amy Nisselle Erin Turbitt Alison McEwen Laura Yeates |
| author_facet | Holly Canton Rebecca Macintosh Joanna Sweeting Helen Mountain Jodie Ingles Amy Nisselle Erin Turbitt Alison McEwen Laura Yeates |
| author_sort | Holly Canton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: In Australia and New Zealand, one third of genetic counselors have less than 5 years’ experience. Sharing experienced practitioners’ professional knowledge is needed as the profession grows. Formal mentoring is an important facilitator of career progression and shared knowledge. In 2022, the Australasian Society of Genetic Counselors developed a 6-month mentor program, matching mentees with experienced genetic counselors (>10 years). We aimed to evaluate and assess the overall satisfaction and acceptability of the program, the matching process, and barriers to participation. Methods: We used an explanatory mixed-method design with cross-sectional surveys deployed at baseline and follow-up and opt-in semi-structured interviews. Interview transcripts were analyzed using codebook thematic analysis, and data were integrated in a narrative approach. Results: Fifteen mentors and 15 mentees (N = 30) from 17 dyads were included in the analysis (response rate 83%). Eighteen completed the postprogram survey, and 12 were interviewed. The majority were female (93%), European (90%), and worked clinically in public hospitals (63%). Mentors’ main reason for participating was “to give back to the next generation,” whereas mentees sought “help with career progression.” Time was a barrier to participating. The majority (89%) achieved their goals, and all participants would recommend the program. Most (61%) found the mentor/mentee matching to be excellent, and 44% believed they would continue the relationship after the program. Conclusion: The Australasian Society of Genetic Counselors Mentor Program filled a gap in professional development within the Australian and New Zealand genetic counseling community and highlighted a general desire to share knowledge with new members of the profession. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-92c56e3f7f4a4259b757cf8ce8fcf2f4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2949-7744 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Genetics in Medicine Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-92c56e3f7f4a4259b757cf8ce8fcf2f42025-08-20T02:35:47ZengElsevierGenetics in Medicine Open2949-77442024-01-01210186510.1016/j.gimo.2024.101865A mixed-methods assessment of the Australasian Society of Genetic Counselors (ASGC) Mentor ProgramHolly Canton0Rebecca Macintosh1Joanna Sweeting2Helen Mountain3Jodie Ingles4Amy Nisselle5Erin Turbitt6Alison McEwen7Laura Yeates8Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaCentre for Clinical Genetics, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Women’s and Children’s Health, UNSW Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaGenomics and Inherited Disease Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research and University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW, Sydney, AustraliaGraduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Genetic Services Western Australia, Perth, WA, AustraliaGenomics and Inherited Disease Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research and University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW, Sydney, Australia; Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaGenomics in Society, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaGraduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaGraduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaGenomics and Inherited Disease Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research and University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to Laura Yeates, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia.Purpose: In Australia and New Zealand, one third of genetic counselors have less than 5 years’ experience. Sharing experienced practitioners’ professional knowledge is needed as the profession grows. Formal mentoring is an important facilitator of career progression and shared knowledge. In 2022, the Australasian Society of Genetic Counselors developed a 6-month mentor program, matching mentees with experienced genetic counselors (>10 years). We aimed to evaluate and assess the overall satisfaction and acceptability of the program, the matching process, and barriers to participation. Methods: We used an explanatory mixed-method design with cross-sectional surveys deployed at baseline and follow-up and opt-in semi-structured interviews. Interview transcripts were analyzed using codebook thematic analysis, and data were integrated in a narrative approach. Results: Fifteen mentors and 15 mentees (N = 30) from 17 dyads were included in the analysis (response rate 83%). Eighteen completed the postprogram survey, and 12 were interviewed. The majority were female (93%), European (90%), and worked clinically in public hospitals (63%). Mentors’ main reason for participating was “to give back to the next generation,” whereas mentees sought “help with career progression.” Time was a barrier to participating. The majority (89%) achieved their goals, and all participants would recommend the program. Most (61%) found the mentor/mentee matching to be excellent, and 44% believed they would continue the relationship after the program. Conclusion: The Australasian Society of Genetic Counselors Mentor Program filled a gap in professional development within the Australian and New Zealand genetic counseling community and highlighted a general desire to share knowledge with new members of the profession.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949774424010112Genetic counselingMentoringProfessional development |
| spellingShingle | Holly Canton Rebecca Macintosh Joanna Sweeting Helen Mountain Jodie Ingles Amy Nisselle Erin Turbitt Alison McEwen Laura Yeates A mixed-methods assessment of the Australasian Society of Genetic Counselors (ASGC) Mentor Program Genetics in Medicine Open Genetic counseling Mentoring Professional development |
| title | A mixed-methods assessment of the Australasian Society of Genetic Counselors (ASGC) Mentor Program |
| title_full | A mixed-methods assessment of the Australasian Society of Genetic Counselors (ASGC) Mentor Program |
| title_fullStr | A mixed-methods assessment of the Australasian Society of Genetic Counselors (ASGC) Mentor Program |
| title_full_unstemmed | A mixed-methods assessment of the Australasian Society of Genetic Counselors (ASGC) Mentor Program |
| title_short | A mixed-methods assessment of the Australasian Society of Genetic Counselors (ASGC) Mentor Program |
| title_sort | mixed methods assessment of the australasian society of genetic counselors asgc mentor program |
| topic | Genetic counseling Mentoring Professional development |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949774424010112 |
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