Evaluating the performance of a virtual platform ‘T-BOM’ for mentorship in tropical diseases research among early career scientists: Insights from a pilot in Nigeria and other resource-limited settings

IF 2 Q3 INFECTIOUS DISEASES Parasite Epidemiology and Control Pub Date : 2024-11-01 DOI:10.1016/j.parepi.2024.e00393

Hammed Oladeji Mogaji , Akan Itinah , Oyinkansola Suliat Fadiji , Olamide Olaitan Omitola , Tawkalitu Eniola Mogaji , Olajide Murtala Keshinro , Falilat Eniola Mogaji , Mahmud Umar Ali , Moses Aikins , Franklin N. Glozah , Dako-Gyeke Phyllis , Uwem Friday Ekpo

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Abstract

Background

Research mentorship plays a crucial role in advancing science. However, there are limited virtual platforms for cultivating mentorship among early career infectious diseases researchers in resource challenged settings. This study reports the findings from the utilization of a recently developed virtual mentorship platform, including its achievements, challenges and needs.

Methods

We developed a web-based application called Top-Bottom Open Mentorship (TBOM) freely accessible at www.tbommodel.com. The platform hosts mentors and allows mentees to send connection requests. In this paper, we present the utilization of this platform, including the opportunities and challenges encountered during the first year of implementation. Utilization data was generated monthly, while opportunities and challenges were captured using a users' perception survey. Data were analyzed in R software and summarized thematically as appropriate.

Results

Between October 2022 and November 2023, the platform registered 81 users, comprising 63 mentees [54.3 % males, 75 % graduate students] from five countries [Nigeria, Cameroon, Brazil, Sudan, and Ghana], and 18 mentors [78 % males] from six countries [Nigeria, USA, Cameroon, Kenya, Brazil, and Tanzania]. Platform engagement increased from 19.4 % (7 users out of 36 who registered) to 51 % (41 users out of 81 who registered) over the year. Also, a total of 16 mentorship cycles were completed, with 9 currently running. Mentees reported having access to job opportunities, enhanced skills in writing, time management, and grant sourcing, and improved research prospects. However, challenges identified include time zone differences, limited number of mentors, mentee's readiness, and associated internet connection issues.

Interpretation

The achievements of T-BOM over a period of one-year are challenged by intrinsic factors from both mentees and mentors, as well as erratic internet services in resource-limited settings. While the platform offers significant opportunities for improving research mentorship, these challenges need to be carefully addressed.

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评估 "T-BOM "虚拟平台的性能，为职业生涯初期的科学家提供热带疾病研究方面的指导：从尼日利亚和其他资源有限环境的试点中获得的启示

背景研究导师制在推动科学发展方面发挥着至关重要的作用。然而，在资源匮乏的环境中，用于培养传染病早期职业研究人员导师关系的虚拟平台非常有限。本研究报告了最近开发的虚拟导师平台的使用结果，包括其成就、挑战和需求。方法我们开发了一个基于网络的应用程序，名为 "上下开放式导师"（TBOM），可在 www.tbommodel.com 免费访问。该平台容纳导师，并允许被指导者发送连接请求。在本文中，我们将介绍该平台的使用情况，包括第一年实施过程中遇到的机遇和挑战。利用率数据按月生成，而机遇和挑战则通过用户感知调查来捕捉。结果在 2022 年 10 月至 2023 年 11 月期间，该平台注册了 81 名用户，包括来自 5 个国家（尼日利亚、喀麦隆、巴西、苏丹和加纳）的 63 名被指导者[54.3% 为男性，75% 为研究生]和来自 6 个国家（尼日利亚、美国、喀麦隆、肯尼亚、巴西和坦桑尼亚）的 18 名指导者[78% 为男性]。一年来，平台参与度从 19.4%（36 个注册用户中的 7 个）提高到 51%（81 个注册用户中的 41 个）。此外，共完成了 16 个指导周期，目前正在进行 9 个周期。被指导者报告说，他们获得了工作机会，提高了写作、时间管理和寻求资助的技能，并改善了研究前景。然而，所发现的挑战包括时差、导师人数有限、被指导者的准备情况以及相关的互联网连接问题。虽然该平台为改善研究导师制提供了重要机会，但这些挑战需要认真应对。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Parasite Epidemiology and Control Medicine-Infectious Diseases

CiteScore

5.70

自引率

3.10%

发文量

审稿时长

17 weeks

期刊介绍： Parasite Epidemiology and Control is an Open Access journal. There is an increasing amount of research in the parasitology area that analyses the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations. This epidemiology of parasite infectious diseases is predominantly studied in human populations but also spans other major hosts of parasitic infections and as such this journal will have a broad remit. We will focus on the major areas of epidemiological study including disease etiology, disease surveillance, drug resistance and geographical spread and screening, biomonitoring, and comparisons of treatment effects in clinical trials for both human and other animals. We will also look at the epidemiology and control of vector insects. The journal will also cover the use of geographic information systems (Epi-GIS) for epidemiological surveillance which is a rapidly growing area of research in infectious diseases. Molecular epidemiological approaches are also particularly encouraged.