Multiple Mini-interview Consistency and Satisfactoriness for Residency Program Recruitment: Oman Evidence.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Residency Selection
• Otorhinolaryngology

Background:

• Standard interviews for residency selection have limitations including interviewer variability, bias, and context specificity.
• Assessing non-cognitive skills reliably is crucial for selecting successful residents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the consistency and satisfactoriness of the multiple mini-interview (MMI) model for resident selection in an otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery program.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 15 applicants, 8 raters, and 7 eight-minute MMI stations was conducted.
• Candidates were assessed on medical knowledge (case scenarios) and behavioral knowledge (personality, professionalism, communication).

Main Results:

• The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the MMI scores was 0.36, with a higher ICC of 0.54 for the medical interview component.
• No significant correlation was found between behavioral items score and total MMI score (r = 0.135).

Conclusions:

• The MMI is perceived as a fair and effective tool for evaluating non-cognitive traits in residency selection.
• Both candidates and interviewers preferred the MMI model over standard interviews, indicating its acceptability and preference.