(1082) Virtual Interviews: Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Residency and Fellowship Applicants

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed many professional interactions, from traditional in-person residency and fellowship interviews to virtual formats. As the pandemic recedes, educational leaders face critical decisions on maintaining virtual interviews, returning to in-person formats, or adopting a hybrid approach.

Methods: We conducted a survey to investigate the perceptions of residency and fellowship applicants regarding different interview formats. The study targeted internal medicine residents at Saint Vincent Hospital, a 360-bed community teaching hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts. Data collection occurred in December 2023, using a questionnaire developed with Google Forms, consisting of 30 questions with Likert scales, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions.

Results: A total of 71 residents participated in the survey. Among them, 35.2% were in PGY1, 31% in PGY2, 29.6% in PGY3, and 4.2% in PGY4. 71.4% interviewed for fellowship positions across all specialties, 23.8% for hospital medicine or primary care positions, and 4.8% for both. 53.5% of residents spent less than $2000 on virtual interviews, whereas anticipated costs for in-person interviews were significantly higher. Residents expressed mixed feelings about the virtual interview process; 50.7% felt they had sufficient information to rank programs, while 19.7% believed virtual interviews negatively impacted their chances of matching. The benefits of virtual interviews included cost savings, convenience, and scheduling flexibility, while challenges included difficulty assessing program culture and technical issues.

Conclusions: Virtual interviews offered significant advantages, such as cost savings and scheduling flexibility, contributing to greater equity among candidates. However, challenges related to assessing program culture, effective communication, and technical issues were also noted. The study highlighted the need for a balanced approach to future interview formats, with many residents favoring a hybrid model combining virtual and in-person elements. This model could leverage the strengths of both formats, offering cost-effective and flexible scheduling options through virtual interviews and providing opportunities for in-person interactions and facility tours.