Not From Around Here: Evaluation of In-Person Interviews in an Urban General Surgery Residency Program

• Published in: Journal of surgical education Vol. 81; no. 12; p. 103283
• Main Authors: Castellanos, Daniel, Eno, Cassie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-12-2024
• Subjects: in person interviews; program evaluation; residency recruitment; surgical residency; virtual interviews; residency recruitment; surgical residency; in person interviews; virtual interviews; program evaluation
• ISSN: 1931-7204; 1878-7452; 1878-7452
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2024.09.002

•Applicants from out-of-state had a significantly higher preference for and perception of in-person interviews than those from in-state.•Applicants and faculty interviewers were generally comfortable with an in-person interviewing format.•Applicant interest in assessing a residency program in person may be especially relevant to general surgery residency due to the length of the commitment.•Institutions should utilize program evaluation to determine which interview format is best for each program based on their unique context.
This study used a program evaluation approach to investigate the perceptions of utilizing in-person applicant interviews for a general surgery residency program.
The study utilized de-identified data routinely collected during the residency program applicant interviews in the General Surgery Residency Program during the fall of 2023. Applicant and faculty/resident exit interview questionnaires were developed to evaluate perceptions of in-person interviewing; the questions were informed by domains for considering the appropriateness and feasibility of continuing in-person interviews as identified by the institution's Graduate Medical Education Committee. Applicants completed the survey at the end of their interview day; faculty and resident interviewers completed the survey following the applicant rank meeting.
The Sponsoring Institution approved a pilot transition from virtual to in-person interviews for the General Surgery Residency Program 2023 recruitment cycle. Surveys were completed electronically.
Sixty-four applicants were interviewed and requested to complete the exit survey. The survey was completed by 55 (Response rate = 86%) program applicants and eight (Response rate = 100%) faculty and residents in the program.
49.1% of applicants indicated a preference for in-person interviews, 40.0% of applicants indicated a preference to choose and only 10.9% indicated a preference for virtual interviews. Applicants from out-of-state had a significantly higher preference for in-person interviews than those from in-state. Applicants and faculty interviewers perceived in-person interviews to provide a strong assessment of applicants. Applicants from out-of-state had a significantly higher confidence in their ability to demonstrate their strength and assess fit than those from in-state.
While most applicants and faculty interviewers were generally comfortable with an in-person interviewing format, applicants from out-of-state had a particularly high preference for and perception of in-person interviews. General surgery residency programs and sponsoring institutions would benefit from the development of a comprehensive program evaluation strategies for their residency program interviews to make evidence-informed decisions about how best to structure interviews for their programs.