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BACKGROUND: All Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) R1 interviews were conducted virtually for the first time in 2021. We explored the facilitators, barriers, and implications of the virtual interview process for the CaRMS R1 match and provide recommendations for improvement. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey study of CaRMS R1 residency applicants and interviewers across Canada in 2021. Surveys were distributed by email to the interviewers, and by email, social media, or newsletter to the applicants. Inductive thematic analysis was used for open-ended items. Recommendations were provided as frequencies to demonstrate strength. Close-ended items were described and compared across groups using Chi-Square Fisher's Exact tests. RESULTS: A total of 127 applicants and 400 interviewers, including 127 program directors, responded to the survey. 193/380 (50.8%) interviewers and 90/118 (76.3%) applicants preferred virtual over in-person interview formats. Facilitators of the virtual interview format included cost and time savings, ease of scheduling, reduced environmental impact, greater equity, less stress, greater reach and participation, and safety. Barriers of the virtual interview format included reduced informal conversations, limited ability for applicants to explore programs at different locations, limited ability for programs to assess applicants' interest, technological issues, concern for interview integrity, limited non-verbal communication, and reduced networking. The most helpful media for applicants to learn about residency programs were program websites, the CaRMS/AFMC websites, and recruitment videos. Additionally, panel interviews were preferred by applicants for their ability to showcase themselves and build connections with multiple interviewers. Respondents provided recommendations regarding: (1) dissemination of program information, (2) the use of technology, and (3) the virtual interview format. CONCLUSIONS: Perceptions of 2021 CaRMS R1 virtual interviews were favourable among applicants and interviewers. Recommendations from this study can help improve future iterations of virtual interviews.
Subject(s)
Internship and Residency , Humans , Canada , Cross-Sectional Studies , Communication , Electronic Mail , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes Ontario Skin and Wound Care project, a virtual team-based endeavor designed to improve the care of patients with chronic wounds. METHODS: The study team conducted phone interviews with healthcare professionals (n = 8) regarding their patients (n = 10). The management recommendations were grouped, and the study participants questioned concerning the implementation of the recommendations. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and the transcripts were analyzed for common themes. The Queen's University Research Ethics Board approved this study. RESULTS: Interviews documented improvement in 50% of patients; the other half of the patients did not improve because of patient- and healthcare-system barriers. Three of five nonhealing patients were nonadherent regarding compression, and only one of six suggested biopsies were carried out. The investigators noted three primary reasons for the lack of recommendation implementation: (1) could not obtain a diagnostic procedure, (2) lack of a diagnosis, and (3) patient was reluctant to make a lifestyle change. Major themes included problems in care coordination and suboptimal patient and provider education, along with other obstacles to management. CONCLUSIONS: Participants stated that the project provided a beneficial learning experience. The findings highlighted a lack of integrated and coordinated interprofessional chronic wound care.
Subject(s)
Delivery of Health Care , Health Personnel , Humans , Ontario , Patient CareABSTRACT
Purpose: Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, all Canadian Resident Matching Service interviews for internal medicine subspecialty programs were conducted virtually for the first time. This study explored the perceptions and experiences of internal medicine residents, subspecialty medicine program directors, and interviewers during virtual interviews. Methods: We invited all Canadian third-year IM residents, subspecialty program directors, and interviewers who participated in the 2020 medical subspecialty medicine interviews to complete a branching survey with a section for residents and one for program directors and interviewers. We distributed the anonymous survey after the submission of the rank order lists, to not affect residency match outcomes. Qualitative data were open-coded thematically and quantitative data were cleaned and then statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance tests. Results: 62 residents, 59 program directors, and 113 interviewers responded to the survey with representation from almost all Canadian medical faculties and medical subspecialties. Strengths of virtual interviews included reduced cost, stress, pandemic infection risk, and carbon footprint. Weaknesses of virtual interviews included decreased ability to connect personally and informally, and inability to tour medical facilities and cities. A majority of both resident respondents (59.6%) and program directors/interviewer respondents (54.6%) supported conducting interviews virtually in the future. Conclusions: This study showed that the majority of both sampled residents and program directors/interviewers would prefer to conduct medicine subspecialty match interviews virtually in the future, and provides suggestions on how to improve the virtual interviews for the next iteration.
Objectif: En raison de la pandémie du coronavirus 2019, toutes les entrevues du Service canadien de jumelage des résidents pour les programmes de sur-spécialités en médecine interne ont été menées virtuellement pour une première fois. Cette étude a exploré les perceptions et les expériences des résidents en médecine interne, des directeurs de programmes de médecine de sur-spécialités et des intervieweurs à l'égard des entrevues virtuelles. Méthodes: Nous avons invité tous les résidents canadiens de troisième année en médecine interne, les directeurs de programmes de sur-spécialités et les intervieweurs qui ont participé aux entrevues de médecine de sur-spécialités de 2020 à répondre à un sondage à branchement conditionnel comportant une section pour les résidents et une autre section pour les directeurs de programmes et les intervieweurs. Nous avons distribué le sondage anonyme après la soumission des listes de classement, afin de ne pas affecter les résultats du jumelage des résidents. Les données qualitatives ont fait l'objet d'un codage thématique et les données quantitatives ont été épurées, puis analysées statistiquement à l'aide de statistiques descriptives et de tests d'analyse de la variance. Résultats: Au total, 62 résidents, 59 directeurs de programmes et 113 intervieweurs, ont complété le sondage avec une représentation de presque toutes les facultés de médecine et de toutes les sur-spécialités médicales au Canada. Les avantages des entrevues virtuelles comportaient la réduction des coûts, du stress, du risque d'infection pandémique et de l'empreinte carbone. Les inconvénients des entrevues virtuelles incluaient la possibilité restreinte d'établir des contacts personnels et informels ainsi que l'impossibilité de visiter les installations médicales et les villes. La majorité des résidents (59,6 %) et des directeurs de programme/intervieweurs (54,6 %) supportent l'utilisation d'entretiens virtuels dans le futur. Conclusions: Cette étude a montré que la majorité des résidents et des directeurs de programme/intervieweurs de l'échantillon préféreraient désormais mener les entretiens pour le jumelage de sur-spécialités virtuellement. Elle propose également des suggestions sur la façon d'améliorer les entretiens virtuels pour la prochaine itération.
ABSTRACT
Purpose Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, all Canadian Resident Matching Service interviews for internal medicine subspecialty programs were conducted virtually for the first time. This study explored the perceptions and experiences of internal medicine residents, subspecialty medicine program directors, and interviewers during virtual interviews. Methods We invited all Canadian third-year IM residents, subspecialty program directors, and interviewers who participated in the 2020 medical subspecialty medicine interviews to complete a branching survey with a section for residents and one for program directors and interviewers. We distributed the anonymous survey after the submission of the rank order lists, to not affect residency match outcomes. Qualitative data were open-coded thematically and quantitative data were cleaned and then statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance tests. Results 62 residents, 59 program directors, and 113 interviewers responded to the survey with representation from almost all Canadian medical faculties and medical subspecialties. Strengths of virtual interviews included reduced cost, stress, pandemic infection risk, and carbon footprint. Weaknesses of virtual interviews included decreased ability to connect personally and informally, and inability to tour medical facilities and cities. A majority of both resident respondents (59.6%) and program directors/interviewer respondents (54.6%) supported conducting interviews virtually in the future. Conclusions This study showed that the majority of both sampled residents and program directors/interviewers would prefer to conduct medicine subspecialty match interviews virtually in the future, and provides suggestions on how to improve the virtual interviews for the next iteration.