Department of Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
Department of Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
J Surg Educ. 2022 Nov-Dec;79(6):e61-e68. doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2022.07.024. Epub 2022 Aug 9.
The COVID-19 pandemic has played a lasting role on residency recruitment through the virtual interview process. The objective of this study was to 1) examine general surgery applicants' priorities and perceptions following pre-interview virtual open houses and 2) to assess applicant expectations and efficacy of the virtual interview day process.
DESIGN/SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: This study utilized two voluntary and anonymous cross-sectional surveys administered via email to evaluate the virtual interview process of a general surgery residency program. The first was administered to registrants following completion of three open houses of various topics. The second was administered following each interview day. The post-open house survey had 78 respondents, two excluded for no open house attendance. The post-interview survey was completed by 44 applicants (62.9% response rate).
Majority of respondents reported that attending virtual open houses made them want to apply to (90.9%) and improved their perception of the program (94.7%). Applicants who felt a sense of obligation to attend open houses (68.4%) were significantly more likely to feel that they contributed to the stress and time commitment of applications (81.8% vs 18.2%, p=0.028). Interview expectations were identified in recurrent themes: 1. Clear organization with breaks, 2. Interactive resident sessions, 3. Meetings with program leadership, 4. Additional information unavailable on other resources. The pre-interview social and interview day improved 90.2% of the applicants' perceptions of the program. The interview significantly improved applicants' ability to assess nearly all aspects of the program, notably resident camaraderie and culture (30.8% vs 97.4%, p=0.01) and strengths and weaknesses (30.8% vs 92.3%, p=0.04).
While virtual open houses can improve applicants' perceptions and desire to apply to a program, the associated stress and obligation should be considered. Virtual interviews should provide information unavailable using other resources and provide avenues for conveying the resident culture and camaraderie.
新冠疫情通过虚拟面试过程对住院医师招聘产生了持久的影响。本研究的目的是：1）检查普通外科申请人在参加预面试虚拟开放日活动后的优先事项和看法；2）评估申请人对虚拟面试日流程的期望和效能。
设计/环境/参与者：本研究通过电子邮件向注册者提供了两个自愿和匿名的横断面调查，以评估普通外科住院医师项目的虚拟面试流程。第一个调查在参加完三个不同主题的开放日后进行。第二个调查在每次面试日之后进行。参加完开放日的调查有 78 位回复者，其中有两位没有参加开放日被排除在外。参加完面试的调查有 44 位申请人（62.9%的回复率）。
大多数受访者表示，参加虚拟开放日使他们想要申请（90.9%），并提高了他们对该项目的看法（94.7%）。认为有义务参加开放日的申请人（68.4%）更有可能认为他们对申请的压力和时间投入做出了贡献（81.8%对 18.2%，p=0.028）。在反复出现的主题中确定了面试的期望：1. 有明确的休息时间的清晰组织；2. 互动式的居民会议；3. 与项目领导会面；4. 其他资源无法提供的额外信息。面试前的社交和面试日提高了 90.2%的申请人对该项目的看法。面试显著提高了申请人评估项目几乎所有方面的能力，尤其是居民之间的友情和文化（30.8%对 97.4%，p=0.01）和优点和缺点（30.8%对 92.3%，p=0.04）。
虽然虚拟开放日可以提高申请人对项目的看法和申请意愿，但应考虑相关的压力和义务。虚拟面试应该提供其他资源无法提供的信息，并为传达居民文化和友情提供途径。
