Evaluation of a mentorship model for capacity building of healthcare professionals in evidence synthesis

Most workshops focus primarily on assessing Level 1 and Level 2 outcomes (attitude and knowledge) according to Kirkpatrick’s model. This study evaluates the higher-level outcomes of a mentorship model for systematic review training in low- and middle-income settings and identifies the barriers and facilitators to its implementation. A blended mentorship model was adopted, combining offline workshops with online mentoring. Pre-workshop weekly online sessions were conducted, followed by five days of offline technical sessions on individual steps of systematic review at a public healthcare institute in Central India. Mentorship was provided through weekly post-workshop online sessions for four months. Outcomes were assessed using Kirkpatrick’s framework in October 2024 and October-November 2025. A total of 28 mentees registered 18 systematic reviews with PROSPERO, of which 17 (94.4%) were completed. Twelve reviews were either published or accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals (Level II). Six mentees (21.4%) reported starting new systematic reviews as lead or co-lead authors, while nine (32.1%) participated in new systematic reviews (Level IIIa). Additionally, two mentees (7.1%) became members of a guideline development group (GDG) (Level IIIb). The main challenges reported included difficulties with time management and limitations regarding access to resources. Key facilitators were dedicated and ongoing mentorship, a collaborative and supportive environment, and a well-structured program design. Favourable higher-level educational outcomes were observed among healthcare professionals who participated in the SysMet Nagpur mentorship model.