TY - JOUR
T1 - Virtual Interviews during COVID-19
T2 - Perspectives of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Program Directors
AU - Menhaji, Kimia
AU - Gaigbe-Togbe, Bertille H.A.
AU - Hardart, Anne
AU - Bui, Anthony H.
AU - Andiman, Sarah E.
AU - Ascher-Walsh, Charles J.
AU - Dabney, Lisa
AU - Do Tran, Ann
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© American Urogynecologic Society. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (FPMRS) fellowship program directors' opinions regarding the effectiveness of virtual interviews for selecting fellows and their future interview mode preferences. Methods This was a cross-sectional online survey of all FPMRS program directors in the United States conducted from April 29, 2020, to May 30, 2020. At the time of this study, there were 73 program directors and 69 obstetrics and gynecology and urology-accredited FPMRS programs nationwide. The primary outcome was to subjectively assess the effectiveness of virtual interviews as compared with in-person interviews for evaluating applicants. Results Fifty seven (82.6%) of the program directors completed the survey. A total of 80.7% (46/57) of the respondents had participated in interviews for the active match cycle. Of the programs that participated in the interview process, almost all conducted interviews using virtual platforms (97.8%, 45/46). Program directors who conducted interviews virtually found them effective in evaluating applicants (88.9%, 40/45) and were satisfied with the virtual interview process (86.7%, 39/45). A total of 31.1% of respondents (14/45) preferred a virtual platform to an in-person setting for future interviews, and 60% (27/45) reported that they will likely perform future interviews virtually. Conclusions Although the pandemic resulted in a sudden reformatting of FPMRS fellowship interviews, most program directors nationally were satisfied with the process and found virtual interviews effective for assessing applicants. More than 50% of FPMRS program directors are likely to consider the virtual format for future interviews.
AB - Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (FPMRS) fellowship program directors' opinions regarding the effectiveness of virtual interviews for selecting fellows and their future interview mode preferences. Methods This was a cross-sectional online survey of all FPMRS program directors in the United States conducted from April 29, 2020, to May 30, 2020. At the time of this study, there were 73 program directors and 69 obstetrics and gynecology and urology-accredited FPMRS programs nationwide. The primary outcome was to subjectively assess the effectiveness of virtual interviews as compared with in-person interviews for evaluating applicants. Results Fifty seven (82.6%) of the program directors completed the survey. A total of 80.7% (46/57) of the respondents had participated in interviews for the active match cycle. Of the programs that participated in the interview process, almost all conducted interviews using virtual platforms (97.8%, 45/46). Program directors who conducted interviews virtually found them effective in evaluating applicants (88.9%, 40/45) and were satisfied with the virtual interview process (86.7%, 39/45). A total of 31.1% of respondents (14/45) preferred a virtual platform to an in-person setting for future interviews, and 60% (27/45) reported that they will likely perform future interviews virtually. Conclusions Although the pandemic resulted in a sudden reformatting of FPMRS fellowship interviews, most program directors nationally were satisfied with the process and found virtual interviews effective for assessing applicants. More than 50% of FPMRS program directors are likely to consider the virtual format for future interviews.
KW - COVID-19 pandemic
KW - FPMRS fellowship
KW - fellowship interviews
KW - video interviews
KW - virtual platforms
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85114415203&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/SPV.0000000000000982
DO - 10.1097/SPV.0000000000000982
M3 - Article
C2 - 33086259
AN - SCOPUS:85114415203
SN - 2151-8378
VL - 27
SP - 575
EP - 580
JO - Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery
JF - Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery
IS - 9
ER -