Virtual Physician Assistant Program Interviews: Faculty and Applicant Perspectives.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Professions Education
• Physician Assistant Studies

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid transition from in-person to virtual admission interviews for many physician assistant (PA) programs.
• This shift prompted an investigation into the experiences and perceptions of both PA program faculty and applicants regarding virtual interview modalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the general perceptions of PA faculty and applicants concerning virtual interviews.
• To identify the perceived advantages and disadvantages of virtual interview processes in PA program admissions.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-method approach utilizing two distinct survey instruments for PA program applicants and faculty.
• Surveys were distributed via email and social media, with data analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, ANOVA, and Spearman's rho correlation.
• Qualitative data were subjected to iterative analysis and inductive reasoning to identify key themes and categorize responses.

Main Results:

• Responses were collected from 178 applicants and 325 faculty members.
• A majority of applicants (62.4%) preferred virtual interviews, whereas most faculty (64.0%) favored in-person interviews.
• Both groups reported comfort in making admissions decisions post-interview (applicants: 84.6%, faculty: 64.9%), citing convenience, reduced travel, and cost savings as key advantages of virtual interviews.

Conclusions:

• The virtual interview process was perceived positively by both PA program applicants and faculty.
• The identified advantages suggest that virtual interviews could be a viable and beneficial option for future PA program admissions.