The role of blinded interviews in the assessment of surgical residency candidates.
BACKGROUND
Interview assessments of surgical residency candidates may be biased by prior knowledge of objective data.


METHODS
Each candidate (site 1: n = 88; site 2: n = 44) underwent two interviews, one by faculty members informed only of a candidate's medical school, the second with prior knowledge of the complete application. Interviewers (site 1: n = 28; site 2: n = 14) independently rated candidates overall and on nine qualitative characteristics.


RESULTS
At site 1 only, overall ratings were significantly more favorable for unblinded than blinded interviews (23.0 +/- 17.7 versus 32.6 +/- 23.1, P < 0.01). Blinded and unblinded overall ratings correlated -0.01 (P = 0.90) and 0.31 (P = 0.05) at sites 1 and 2, respectively. At site 1 only, overall ratings correlated significantly with USMLE scores, but in opposite directions for blinded (r = 0.32, P = 0.003) versus unblinded interviews (r = -0.32, P = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Interview assessments may be influenced by objective data, and faculty and program variables. The value of blinded interviewing may vary as a function of individual program characteristics.
Miles
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WS
Department of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, P.O. Box 32861, Charlotte, NC 28232-2861, USA. will.miles@carolinashealthcare.org
Shaw
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V
Risucci
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D004521:Educational Measurement; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method