Cross-institutional Virtual Mock Oral Examination: A New Paradigm?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Virtual Learning Environments

Background:

• Mock oral examinations (MOEs) are crucial for preparing residents for national board oral examinations.
• Traditionally in-person, MOEs are increasingly exploring virtual alternatives due to technological advancements and pandemic-driven needs.
• The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual learning in medical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and participant experience of a cross-institutional virtual mock oral examination (MOE) for plastic surgery residents.
• To determine if a virtual platform could approximate a board examination environment and enhance collaborative opportunities.
• To assess resident and faculty perceptions regarding convenience, stress, fairness, and value of the virtual MOE.

Main Methods:

• A cross-institutional virtual MOE was conducted involving 16 senior plastic surgery residents and 14 faculty from three programs.
• Trainees were evaluated on six scenarios by faculty from separate institutions, incorporating digitally interactive photographs.
• Anonymous surveys assessed participant experience, perceived accuracy, stress levels, and convenience using a Likert scale.

Main Results:

• Twenty-three participants completed the survey; 87% had prior MOE experience, but only 26.1% had virtual MOE experience.
• Participants rated the virtual platform as more convenient (4.18 ± 1.18) and less stressful (2.32 ± 0.65) than in-person MOEs.
• The virtual MOE was found to be fair and valuable (4.65 ± 0.57) in preparing trainees for the American Board of Plastic Surgery oral examination.

Conclusions:

• Virtual MOEs are a valuable and acceptable alternative to in-person assessments, offering greater convenience.
• The virtual format facilitates improved cross-institutional collaboration in surgical training.
• This study supports the use of virtual platforms for effective preparation for board oral examinations.