THE BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW, A METHOD TO EVALUATE ACGME COMPETENCIES IN RESIDENT SELECTION: A PILOT PROJECT.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anesthesiology Residency Recruitment
• Competency-Based Assessment

Background:

• Traditional resident selection often relies on unstructured, resume-based interviews.
• The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) established six core competencies for residents, emphasizing behaviors alongside knowledge.
• Structured behavioral interviews in business settings demonstrate higher validity in predicting job success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a structured behavioral interview for anesthesiology resident selection.
• To assess four ACGME competencies: Professionalism, Patient Care, Communication Skills, and System-Based Practice.
• To determine the acceptance and utility of this interview format in the recruitment process.

Main Methods:

• Developed a behavioral interview process focusing on past behaviors as predictors of future performance.
• Created specific interview questions designed to evaluate the four targeted ACGME competencies.
• Established a rating system for candidate assessment.
• Introduced the interview format to candidates and faculty involved in the recruitment season.

Main Results:

• The behavioral interview was successfully introduced into the anesthesiology residency recruitment process.
• The report details the question development, rating system, and implementation strategy.
• Candidate and faculty acceptance of the new interview format was assessed.

Conclusions:

• Structured behavioral interviews offer a more valid approach to assessing resident candidates compared to traditional methods.
• This methodology allows for a targeted evaluation of essential ACGME competencies.
• The implementation provides a framework for improving the objectivity and predictive accuracy of resident selection.