Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mentoring programs have emerged as effective strategies to support medical students in managing academic challenges, reducing stress, and facilitating career guidance. In response to the demanding nature of medical education and the need for structured support, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences implemented a comprehensive mentoring and counseling program for first-year students. This study describes the implementation and outcomes of that program using extensive descriptive data drawn from the original thesis. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted on all first-year medical students who participated in the mentoring program over two consecutive semesters (September 2020 and February 2021). Data were collected using standardized, linguistically validated questionnaires designed to assess student satisfaction, academic stress, academic performance, and social interactions. Descriptive statistics-including frequencies, percentages, medians, and interquartile ranges (IQR)-were computed using SPSS. RESULTS: Analysis indicates that 78.26% of students reported a reduction in academic stress and 76.19% noted improvements in academic and social interactions. Additionally, 78.26% stated that mentoring had a positive impact on their academic and career decision-making, with overall satisfaction reaching 91.30%. When comparing the two semesters, students in the first semester demonstrated higher satisfaction and perceived effectiveness, which is attributed to increased face-to-face interactions and enhanced mentor training. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the structured mentoring and counseling program is highly beneficial for first-year medical students by reducing academic stress and enhancing academic performance, social interactions, and career guidance. We recommend that the program be continued and expanded, with periodic evaluations and potential integration of digital tools to further enhance support.