‘Feeling part of a network of learning in health promotion’: An evaluation of a postgraduate peer-mentoring scheme in Ghana

ABSTRACT

Much is known about the value of peer mentoring in under-graduate programmes; however, little has been published about this in the context of transition into postgraduate education, particularly in low-middle income countries. This paper reports on an evaluation of peer mentoring on an MSc Public Health Promotion programme delivered in Ghana. Qualitative methods were used to elicit the experiences of thirty-five students using methods including focus group discussions that involved guided reflection. Data were analysed using a framework adapted from Kram’s Model of Mentoring. Several key themes were identified: practical benefit; social benefit and emotional benefit; future benefit; and facilitating factors and challenges. The peer-mentoring scheme evaluated well benefiting both mentees and mentors. More importantly for Ghana, the relationships that developed between the mentees and mentors bode well for building a community of experts in health promotion that is key to tackling Ghana’s health and development agenda.

KEYWORDS:

• Peer mentoring
• postgraduate
• transition
• evaluation
• qualitative
• Ghana

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the funding from the Centre for Learning and Teaching at Leeds Beckett University which supported the setting up of the peer-mentoring scheme. The authors would also like to acknowledge the contribution of the students who participated in the peer-mentoring scheme and the evaluation of it.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ruth Cross

Ruth Cross is the Course Director for Health Promotion at Leeds Beckett University in Leeds and the Course Leader for the MSc Public Health Promotion which has been delivered in partnership with the University of Health and Allied Sciences since 2013. Ruth was the project lead for the peer-mentoring project.

Diane Lowcock

Diane Lowcock is a retired former Senior Lecturer in Health Promotion who worked in the School of Health and Community Studies at Leeds Beckett University and taught on the MSc Public Health Promotion in Ghana. Diane played a major role in the evaluation of the peer-mentoring project.

Jerry Fiave

Jerry Fiave is a graduate of the first cohort of the MSc Public Health Promotion programme run by Leeds Beckett University in partnership with the University of Health and Allied Sciences. Jerry was a student representative for his cohort and played a key role in setting up the peer-mentoring project.

Sarah Agyeniwah

Sarah Agyeniwah is a graduate of the first cohort of the MSc Public Health Promotion programme run by Leeds Beckett University in partnership with the University of Health and Allied Sciences. Sarah was a student representative for her cohort and played a key role in setting up the peer-mentoring project.

Grace Kafui Annan

Grace Kafui Annan is Deputy Director/Head of Health Promotion in the Family Health Division of the Ghana Health Service and is the former Local Co-ordinator of the MSc Public Health Promotion programme which has been delivered in partnership with the University of Health and Allied Sciences since 2013. Grace played a key role in setting up the peer-mentoring project.