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

Objective

This study used a program evaluation approach to investigate the perceptions of utilizing in-person applicant interviews for a general surgery residency program.

Design

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.

Setting

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.

Participants

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.

Results

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.

Conclusions

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.