Piloting Virtual Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) on Undergraduate Medical Students: A Multisource Feedback Analysis

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Admissions Assessment
• Virtual Learning Environments

Background:

• The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) is a standard for medical admissions.
• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to online MMIs.
• The effectiveness of online MMIs has not been previously explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the experiences of participants in a pilot online MMI program.
• To gather feedback from medical students, interviewers, and technical staff.
• To assess the reception and effectiveness of virtual MMIs.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive survey was conducted at the University of the West Indies, School of Medicine.
• Questionnaires were distributed to first-year medical students, interviewers, and technical facilitators.
• Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of open-ended responses.

Main Results:

• Most interviewees (85.2%-91.1%) found the MMI effective for assessing non-academic attributes.
• Interviewers largely agreed (80%-90.6%) that the MMI assesses non-cognitive abilities.
• Technical facilitators reported good organization and time management in the virtual MMI process.

Conclusions:

• The virtual MMI is a feasible and beneficial innovation for medical admissions, even post-pandemic.
• Participants reported predominantly positive experiences with the online MMI format.
• Recommendations include refining case selection, scoring, time management, and technical support for optimization.