Expectations Versus Reality: Understanding the Accuracy of Impressions
Made During Virtual Interviews of Pediatric Pulmonary Fellowship
Programs
Abstract
Rationale: As a result of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, all pediatric
pulmonary fellowship programs conducted virtual interviews for the first
time in the Fall of 2020. This study aimed to understand the accuracy of
virtual-interview derived-impressions of fellowship programs, as well as
applicant preference for future fellowship interview cycles. Methods: A
group of pediatric pulmonary fellows and Program Directors designed a
REDCap survey. The survey was distributed to all first-year pediatric
pulmonary fellows who participated in the 2020-2021 virtual interview
season. Results: 23/52 (44%) of first-year pediatric pulmonary fellows
completed the survey. 96% were able to form general impressions about
fellowship programs during their virtual interviews. 96% reported that
generally their fellowship experience matched their virtual-interview
derived-impressions. 17 of 19 factors applicants use to rank programs
had no statistically significant change (p > 0.05) in
impression from virtual interview to fellowship experience. The two
factors with a statistically significant (p < 0.05) change in
impression were patient care related – volume of ‘bread and butter’
pediatric pulmonary patients and volume of tertiary care pediatric
pulmonary patients. 87% prefer some form of in-person interview option
in future application cycles. A tiered interview format in which
applicants are first invited to a virtual interview day followed by an
optional in-person second look day was the most popular preference for
future interview cycles (48%). Conclusions: Virtual interviews may
provide accurate representations of pediatric pulmonary fellowship
programs and applicants prefer some type of in-person interview option
in future application cycles.