Virtual Interviewing in the Era of COVID-19: A Preliminary Analysis of Otolaryngology Residency Program Costs

Objective A preliminary comparison of the program experience and costs associated with the virtual interview season during the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic against the traditional in-person interview process during the 2019-2020 interview season. Study Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Our insti...

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Main Authors: Andrew Yousef MD, Benjamin Bernard MD, Deborah Watson MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-09-01
Series:OTO Open
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/2473974X221128908
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author Andrew Yousef MD
Benjamin Bernard MD
Deborah Watson MD
author_facet Andrew Yousef MD
Benjamin Bernard MD
Deborah Watson MD
author_sort Andrew Yousef MD
collection DOAJ
description Objective A preliminary comparison of the program experience and costs associated with the virtual interview season during the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic against the traditional in-person interview process during the 2019-2020 interview season. Study Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Our institutional program launched an online survey via REDCap to otolaryngology programs across the country. Methods A 33-item survey was sent to otolaryngology residency program directors regarding their experience and costs associated with virtual interviews during the 2020-2021 cycle and in-person interviews during the previous 2019-2020 cycle. Purchasing cost and opportunity cost were calculated for each program. Results Twenty-two programs sent back completed survey responses. Program responses were equally represented among all regions of the United States. In the 2020-2021 interview season, programs received more applications (mean, 400 vs 336 the year prior, P < .001) for a similar number of residency spots per program (3.04 in 2020-2021 vs 3.0 2019-2020, P = .715). The virtual interview led to more half-day interviews, a shorter duration of each interview, and fewer interviews completed per interview date. Purchasing cost decreased by $1940.46 (73%), and person-hours dedicated to the interview process decreased by 52.36 with the virtual interview. Total savings per program with virtual interviews were an estimated $6941.66. Conclusions Virtual interviews in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a shift in application and interview patterns and was associated with a reduction in costs for programs when compared with the in-person interview format.
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spelling doaj.art-957e58e3809642a4989ac03e72ebb9322023-11-02T06:11:35ZengWileyOTO Open2473-974X2022-09-01610.1177/2473974X221128908Virtual Interviewing in the Era of COVID-19: A Preliminary Analysis of Otolaryngology Residency Program CostsAndrew Yousef MD0Benjamin Bernard MD1Deborah Watson MD2Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USADepartment of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USADepartment of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USAObjective A preliminary comparison of the program experience and costs associated with the virtual interview season during the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic against the traditional in-person interview process during the 2019-2020 interview season. Study Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Our institutional program launched an online survey via REDCap to otolaryngology programs across the country. Methods A 33-item survey was sent to otolaryngology residency program directors regarding their experience and costs associated with virtual interviews during the 2020-2021 cycle and in-person interviews during the previous 2019-2020 cycle. Purchasing cost and opportunity cost were calculated for each program. Results Twenty-two programs sent back completed survey responses. Program responses were equally represented among all regions of the United States. In the 2020-2021 interview season, programs received more applications (mean, 400 vs 336 the year prior, P < .001) for a similar number of residency spots per program (3.04 in 2020-2021 vs 3.0 2019-2020, P = .715). The virtual interview led to more half-day interviews, a shorter duration of each interview, and fewer interviews completed per interview date. Purchasing cost decreased by $1940.46 (73%), and person-hours dedicated to the interview process decreased by 52.36 with the virtual interview. Total savings per program with virtual interviews were an estimated $6941.66. Conclusions Virtual interviews in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a shift in application and interview patterns and was associated with a reduction in costs for programs when compared with the in-person interview format.https://doi.org/10.1177/2473974X221128908
spellingShingle Andrew Yousef MD
Benjamin Bernard MD
Deborah Watson MD
Virtual Interviewing in the Era of COVID-19: A Preliminary Analysis of Otolaryngology Residency Program Costs
OTO Open
title Virtual Interviewing in the Era of COVID-19: A Preliminary Analysis of Otolaryngology Residency Program Costs
title_full Virtual Interviewing in the Era of COVID-19: A Preliminary Analysis of Otolaryngology Residency Program Costs
title_fullStr Virtual Interviewing in the Era of COVID-19: A Preliminary Analysis of Otolaryngology Residency Program Costs
title_full_unstemmed Virtual Interviewing in the Era of COVID-19: A Preliminary Analysis of Otolaryngology Residency Program Costs
title_short Virtual Interviewing in the Era of COVID-19: A Preliminary Analysis of Otolaryngology Residency Program Costs
title_sort virtual interviewing in the era of covid 19 a preliminary analysis of otolaryngology residency program costs
url https://doi.org/10.1177/2473974X221128908
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