Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian, Boston, Massachusetts.
J Surg Educ. 2023 Nov;80(11):1544-1551. doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2023.07.012. Epub 2023 Aug 8.
The onset of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic brought many changes to the residency application process including transitioning to a virtual interview platform, which continues today. The transition brought many concerns from general surgery applicants about their ability to obtain adequate information about a program virtually. We sought to characterize how information presented by programs during the first ever virtual interview cycle matched the experience of general surgery interns after training at a program for 1 year.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In May of 2022, a survey was distributed to 243 program directors who were asked to forward it to their general surgery categorical interns who matched during the 2021 virtual match cycle. Demographics, resources used to determine an impression of a program, and correlations between information presented virtually and what was subsequently experienced as an intern were collected.
Forty-six program directors confirmed forwarding the survey to their categorical interns. A total of 102 general surgery interns completed the survey. Most interns (88.2%) agreed that their experience matched expectations based on information received through the virtual interview process and 98% of interns were satisfied with their experience at their training program. Interviews with faculty (40.0%), residents (68.0%) and the program web site (29.0%) were the top 3 resources used to create the most accurate impression of a program. Interns felt they were well informed during the virtual interview experience about support from fellow residents (84.3%), culture (73.0%), surgical volume (72.5%), and intern operative experience (71.6%). In addition, 65.7% of participants thought they were able to obtain a good understanding of the program's culture from the virtual process. However, 16.7% thought that their program unintentionally misrepresented aspects of the training program.
The faculty and residency interviews were the most important factors in program ranking and most participants agreed that their virtual interview experience matched their expectations during their intern year. Most interns felt they were able to obtain a good understanding of the program's culture from the virtual process. In addition, a majority of interns felt well informed during the interview on aspects ranging from surgical volume, autonomy, and work hours to support from faculty and residents. If virtual interviews are to continue, residents can be satisfied that information gathered virtually will match the reality of their training. Programs should continue to make every effort to present their program realistically.
2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行的爆发给住院医师申请流程带来了许多变化，包括过渡到虚拟面试平台，这一平台至今仍在继续。这一转变引起了许多普通外科申请人的担忧，他们担心自己无法在虚拟环境中充分了解一个项目。我们试图描述在首次虚拟面试周期中，项目提供的信息如何与在一个项目接受为期 1 年培训后的普通外科住院医师的实际经历相匹配。
设计、地点和参与者：2022 年 5 月，向 243 名项目主任分发了一份调查，要求他们将其转发给在 2021 年虚拟匹配周期中匹配的普通外科住院医师。收集了人口统计学信息、用于确定对项目印象的资源，以及虚拟呈现的信息与住院医师随后作为住院医师的实际经历之间的相关性。
46 名项目主任确认将调查转发给了他们的住院医师。共有 102 名普通外科住院医师完成了调查。大多数住院医师（88.2%）同意，他们的经验与通过虚拟面试过程获得的信息相符，98%的住院医师对他们在培训项目中的经历感到满意。与教员（40.0%）、住院医师（68.0%）和项目网站（29.0%）的面试是形成对项目最准确印象的前 3 项资源。住院医师认为，他们在虚拟面试经历中对住院医师的支持（84.3%）、文化（73.0%）、手术量（72.5%）和住院医师手术经验（71.6%）有了很好的了解。此外，65.7%的参与者认为，他们能够从虚拟过程中很好地了解项目的文化。然而，16.7%的人认为他们的项目无意中歪曲了培训项目的某些方面。
教员和住院医师的面试是项目排名的最重要因素，大多数参与者同意他们的虚拟面试经验与他们在住院医师年的期望相符。大多数住院医师认为他们能够从虚拟过程中很好地了解项目的文化。此外，大多数住院医师在面试中对手术量、自主性、工作时间、教员和住院医师的支持等方面都有很好的了解。如果虚拟面试继续进行，住院医师可以确信，从虚拟面试中收集的信息将与他们培训的实际情况相符。项目应继续努力真实地展示项目。
