Applicants' perception of fit to residency programmes in the video‐interview era: A large multidisciplinary survey

Abstract

Introduction: 'Fit' refers to an applicants' perceived compatibility to a residency programme. A variety of structural, identity-related and relational factors contribute to self-assessments of fit. The 2021 residency recruitment cycle in the USA was performed virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about how video-interviewing may affect residency applicants' ability to gauge fit.Methods: A multidisciplinary, anonymous survey was distributed to applicants at a large academic institution between rank order list (ROL) certification deadline and Match Day 2021. Using Likert-type scales, applicants rated factors for importance to 'fit' and their ease of assessment through video-interviewing. Applicants also selfassigned fit scores to the top-ranked programme in their ROL using Likert-type scales with pairs of anchoring statements.

Going virtual: effectiveness of virtual opportunities in engaging applicants for plastic surgery residencies

“…Due to the nature of virtual interviews, it is difficult to pick up on social aspects of residency programs [ 24 ]. However, virtual platforms, such as social media, provide students an insight into the underlying culture of residency programs.…”

Understanding General Surgery Applicant Expectations and Perceptions in the Virtual Interview Process

“…In contrast to other studies, our study did not identify gender differences in applicant prioritization of factors. 18 , 19 This is likely due to a result of a different survey design. 18 …”

“…Understanding the resident culture is critical for applicants to assess their fit with the program. 18 , 22 , 23 A previous study assessing applicants’ perception of fit in to residency programs found that regardless of race or gender, the three most important factors for assessing applicant fit were how much the program seems to care about its residents, how satisfied the residents are with their program, and how well residents get along with each other. 18 These findings are consistent with our findings that applicants assess programs by resident camaraderie and culture and expect adequate time with residents during the virtual interview events.…”

The drawbacks of advantages

“…A recent scoping review of inclusion initiatives for URM showed that policies for diversifying the surgeon workforce were detailed but the mechanisms necessary to achieve this were less clear 4 . Zarate Rodriguez et al 1 have shown that video interviewing of residency candidates is a poor way for departments to positively showcase their ethos and culture to URM. Interestingly, URM did not feel that they could not make a judgement via video interviews but that the judgement they made, as a result, was unfavourable towards the programme.…”

“…In 2020, in response to COVID‐19 public health concerns, it was recommended that residency recruitment in the United States be undertaken virtually, instead of in‐person interviews with institutional visits, using video interviews, virtual tours and streamed question and answer sessions. In this issue of Medical Education , Zarate Rodriguez et al 1 present the results of an anonymous survey distributed to residency applicants for the 2021 intake at a large academic institution. The survey looked to assess the applicant sense of ‘fit’ to the training programmes and their ease of determining this through video interviews.…”