
Optimal length of time for each video interview (min) Location of virtual fellowship interviews Statistical significance was considered to be a two-sidedĮstimated monetary cost for all virtual fellowship interviews (U.S.
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All data were analyzed using statistical software (IBM SPSS 25 Statistics, Armonk, NY). The survey included 22 questions regarding demographic information, the number of programs respondents applied to and interviewed with, monetary costs, virtual interview platform used, satisfaction with the virtual process, perceived strengths and limitations of the virtual interview, and technological difficulties on interview day ( Four reminder e-mails were sent ( December 17, 2020, December 23, 2020, December 28, 2020, and January 4, 2021), and the survey closed on January 9, 2021. The survey was electronically administered via e-mail on December 11, 2020, a day after the SF Match rank list submission deadline (December 10, 2020). = 199) to six Wills Eye Hospital (Philadelphia, PA) fellowship programs (Academic Global Ophthalmology, Cornea, Glaucoma, Ocular Oncology, Vitreoretinal Surgery, and Neuroophthalmology) were included.

San Mateo, CA) for ophthalmology fellowship applicants for the 2020 to 2021 San Francisco (SF) Match fellowship application cycle. All study participants provided written informed consent.Ī nonvalidated web-based survey was created using SurveyMonkey (SVMK Inc. Data were collected in accordance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act guidelines, and the study conformed to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. This prospective cross-sectional study was approved by the Wills Eye Hospital Institutional Review Board. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the virtual interview process for ophthalmology fellowship applicants during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no data, to our knowledge, on the perceptions of ophthalmology fellowship applicants toward the virtual interview process. Similarly, another study of general surgery oncology fellows found that 83% of PDs and 79% of candidates felt comfortable creating their rank list following a virtual interview. However, only 15% of PDs and 20% of applicants agreed that virtual interviews should be the only option offered to candidates. One study of cardiothoracic fellowship applicants and PDs found that 79% of PDs and 55% of applicants believed that virtual interviews should be offered in the future. Multiple recent, survey-based studies have been conducted to understand the impact of virtual interviews on applicants and program directors (PDs) for various nonophthalmology residency and fellowship programs. Given travel restrictions and infectious transmission considerations, many medical schools, residency programs, and fellowship programs have recently transitioned to virtual interviews out of necessity and as a result of these concerns.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated rapid advancements in telemedicine and teleeducation over the past year. Limited exposure to the culture/environment of the program was cited as the most important limitation. Respondents were generally satisfied with virtual interviews and noted reduced costs and increased ability to attend more fellowship interviews as the strengths of the virtual interview format. On a scale of 0 to 100, the mean (standard deviation ) satisfaction level with the fellowship application process was 74.6 (18.3) and mean (SD) perceived effectiveness levels of virtual interviews was 67.4 (20.4). The highest ranked limitation for virtual interviews was limited exposure to the culture/environment of the program in 20 (29%) respondents. Reduced costs were reported as the highest ranked strength of virtual interviews in 44 (65%) applicants, with a majority of respondents (68%) spending less than U.S. Fifty-five of 68 (80%) applicants attended the same range of interviews for which they received interview invitations. Thirty (44%) applicants preferred in-person interviews, 25 (36%) preferred virtual interviews, and 13 (19%) would like to prefer the option to choose either. Survey responses were received from 68 fellowship applicants (34% response rate).

Present study is a cross-sectional study.Īll fellowship applicants to Wills Eye Hospital during 2020 to 2021 application cycle were included.Ī nonvalidated, online survey was conducted, and surveys were distributed at the conclusion of the interview process after rank list submission.Īpplicant demographics, application submissions, interview experiences, financial considerations, and suggestions for improvement of the virtual interview process were the primary outcomes of this cross-sectional study. This study aimed to evaluate the experiences and preferences of ophthalmology fellowship applicants utilizing a virtual interview format.
