The AAMC Standardized Video Interview: Reactions and Use by Residency Programs During the 2018 Application Cycle

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Residency Admissions
• Applicant Evaluation

Background:

• The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) introduced the Standardized Video Interview (SVI) to enhance residency application review.
• Understanding program director perceptions and usage patterns of the SVI is crucial for its effective implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate emergency medicine residency programs' perceptions and utilization of AAMC Standardized Video Interview (SVI) total scores and video responses.
• To assess how these tools were integrated into the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) 2018 application cycle.

Main Methods:

• Two studies were conducted: a program director survey (Study 1) and an analysis of SVI video response usage data (Study 2).
• Study 1 assessed user reactions after the SVI's first operational year, while Study 2 examined actual program usage via the AAMC Program Director's Workstation.

Main Results:

• Survey results (71% response rate) indicated programs viewed SVI videos for curiosity and to understand score ranges, favoring applicants from U.S. MD schools and those with higher USMLE Step 1 scores.
• No significant differences in video viewing were observed based on gender or race/ethnicity.
• Many programs unsure about incorporating SVI scores desired more research on utility, yet over half expressed likelihood to use SVI scores and videos in the future.

Conclusions:

• Program director feedback on SVI utility and ease of use was mixed, with cautious adoption in selection processes aligning with AAMC recommendations.
• Future surveys are planned to monitor AAMC's progress in improving user acceptance and familiarity with the SVI.