Do Medical Student Mental Stress and Burnout Vary with Virtual Versus In-Person Residency Interviews

Figures & data

Table 1. Applicant demographics and details.

	IP interviews (2020 season) (n = 74)	VR interviews (2021 season) (n = 63)	p-value
Age <25 25–27 28–30 >30	5.4% (4) 79.7% (59) 12.2% (9) 2.8% (2)	0 61.9% (39) 28.6% (18) 9.5% (6)	<0.005 ^†
Gender Female Male	87.8% (65) 12.2%	81.0% (51) 19.0% (12)	0.35
Region in the US Northeast South Midwest West	5.4% (4) 2.7% (2) 86.5% (64) 5.4% (4)	30.2% (19) 4.8% (3) 44.4% (28) 20.6% (13)	<0.001 ^†
Number of applications felt necessary to be filed 21–30 31–40 41–50 51–60 61–70 71–80 >80	5.4% (4) 4.1% (3) 25.7% (19) 24.3% (18) 13.5% (10) 5.4% (4) 21.6% (16)	4.8% (3) 14.3% (9) 9.5% (6) 14.3% (9) 9.5% (6) 14.3% (9) 33.3% (21)	<0.02 ^†

† p < 0.05, significant.

IP: In-person; VR: Virtual.

Table 2. Self-reported stress, burnout and risk for suicide among applicants.

	IP interviews (2020 season)	VR interviews (2021 season)	p-value
Self-reported stress	2.72 ± 0.54	2.52 ± 0.59	<0.05 ^‡
Able to identify burnout Unable to identify burnout	32% (24) 68% (50)	85% (51) 15% (9)	<0.001 ^‡
MSWBI total (0–7)	2.47 ± 1.75	2.00 ± 1.55	0.10
MSWBI burnout (total score ≥4) All applicants   Those able to identify burnout   Those unable to identify burnout	28.4% (21) 29.2% (7) 28% (14)	19.0% (12) 23.5% (12) 0%	0.24 ^† 0.32 0.10
MSWBI adjusted (0–13)	4.85 ± 4.47	4.95 ± 3.96	0.89
MSWBI suicide risk (adjusted score ≥10) All applicants   Those able to identify burnout   Those unable to identify burnout	25.7% (19) 25% (13) 26% (6)	19.0% (12) 23.5% (12) 0%	0.42 ^† 0.54 0.19

† Fisher’s test.

‡ p < 0.05, significant.

IP: In person; MSWBI: Mayo Clinic Medical Students Well-Being Index; VR: Virtual.

Table 3. Stressor variations between interview modalities.

	IP interviews (2020 Season)	VR interviews (2021 Season)	p-value
Obtaining letters of recommendation	1.30 ± 0.92	1.76 ± 0.76	<0.002 ^†
Choosing places to apply	1.70 ± 0.79	2.10 ± 0.76	<0.005 ^†
Cost of applications	2.04 ± 1.01	1.76 ± 0.76	0.08
Cost to interview (traveling or technology)	2.01 ± 1.03	1.05 ± 0.96	<0.001 ^†
Scheduling interviews	2.00 ± 0.84	1.86 ± 0.89	0.34
Waiting for interviews	2.45 ± 0.78	2.33 ± 0.84	0.42
Post-interview communication	1.43 ± 0.83	1.43 ± 1.01	0.99

Likert scale 0–4, where none = 0, extensive = 4.

† p < 0.05, significant.

IP: In person; VR: Virtual.

Table 4. Applicant-identified stressors contributing to burnout.

	IP interviews (2020 season)	VR interviews (2021 season)	p-value
Obtaining letters of recommendation	9.5% (7)	0	0.02
Choosing places to apply	21.6% (16)	14.3% (9)	0.38
Prepping for interviews	14.9% (11)	14.3% (9)	0.99
Scheduling interviews	6.8% (5)	0	0.07
Waiting for interviews	4.1% (3)	28.6% (18)	<0.001 ^‡
Guidance in managing cost of applications	8.1% (6)	0	<0.04 ^‡
Missing elective rotations/making up time on rotations	5.4% (4)	9.5% (6)	0.52
Post-interview communication	1.4% (1)	4.8% (3)	0.34

† Fisher’s exact test.

‡ p < 0.05, significant.

IP: In person; VR: Virtual.

Table 5. Rating of applicant-perceived institutional support.

	IP interviews (2020 season)	VR interviews (2021 season)	p-value
Submitting the application	2.15 ± 1.30	2.00 ± 1.21	0.50
Overview of what to expect at the interviews	2.12 ± 1.28	2.56 ± 1.28	0.06
Appearance at the interviews	2.05 ± 1.37	2.10 ± 1.46	0.87
Behavior/professionalism at the interviews	2.04 ± 1.55	2.43 ± 1.23	0.11
How to answer interview questions	2.07 ± 1.22	1.98 ± 1.14	0.69
Understanding the SOAP process	43.2% (32)	42.9% (27)	0.99
Feeling adequately prepared and ready for the interviews	2.47 ± 0.98	2.86 ± 0.71	<0.01 ^†
Medical school informing students of a pre-existing check-in routine	79.7% (59)	28.6% (18)	<0.001 ^†
Frequency of institutional check-in throughout the interview trail Never 1–2 times 3–4 times 5–6 times	32.4% (24) 52.7% (39) 10.8% (8) 4.1% (3)	19% (12) 47.6% (30) 28.6% (18) 4.8% (3)	<0.05 ^†

Likert scale 0–4, where none = 0, extensive = 4.

† p < 0.05, significant.

IP: In person; SOAP: Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program; VR: Virtual.