Impact of increased transparency in anaesthesia fellowship selection interviews: A comparative study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Anaesthesiology

Background:

• Fellowship selection interviews are crucial for assessing anaesthesia training suitability.
• Current interview processes often lack transparency regarding specific questions or topics.
• Previous applicants' insights are sometimes used to prepare, raising fairness concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of increased transparency in fellowship interviews by providing discussion topics beforehand.
• To evaluate effects on applicant performance and candidate experience in specialized anaesthesia training selection.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 91 fellowship applicant interviews over four years (2021-2024).
• Comparison of a novel interview format (topics provided 3 weeks prior) with the traditional format.
• Collection of applicant and interviewer feedback from the 2023 cohort.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in mean interview scores or variance ratios between novel and traditional formats.
• 58.3% of applicants preferred the novel format, reporting reduced anxiety and better preparation.
• Interviewer feedback noted no disadvantages; probing questions remained effective.

Conclusions:

• Providing interview topics in advance does not negatively impact selection validity or performance metrics.
• Increased transparency positively influences candidate experience by reducing anxiety and improving preparation.
• Transparency in fellowship selection interviews can enhance fairness and candidate perception without compromising assessment rigor.