title: Interviewers' and interviewees' perceptions of the changes in recruitment of orthodontic specialty registrars.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess interviewers' and interviewees' perceptions of the National Recruitment for Orthodontic Specialty Registrars in 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviewers and interviewees completed an anonymous questionnaire comprising of 25 and 16 questions, respectively. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and frequency distributions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All interviewees (83/83) and 88% (36/41) of interviewers completed the questionnaires. Of the interviewees, 61% were female; their mean age was 28·9 years (95% CI: 28·2-29·6). The mean time since bachelor of dental science (BDS) was 5·6 years (95% CI: 4·9-6·3) with 78% qualifying from a UK university. The interviewees preferred the multi-station interview (MSI) format, considered the questions easy to understand and thought that MSI was fairer than traditional interviews. Of the interviewers, 56% were male; their mean age was 45·5 years (95% CI: 43·0-48·0). The mean time that they had been a consultant was 11·4 years (95% CI: 8·7-13·1). The interviewers thought that the interviews were fair, tested an appropriate range of competences, selected the best candidates to be appointed and would appoint the same people if repeated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interviewees were very positive about the organization and perceived fairness of the MSI format. Interviewers were positive about the selection of candidates, fairness and conduct of the MSI format.
authors.affiliation: Liverpool University Dental Hospital, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK.
authors.forename: Jye Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Sia
authors.affiliation: Liverpool University Dental Hospital, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK.
authors.forename: Jayne E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003798:Dental Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D004499:Education, Dental, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000193:education; D010560:Personnel Selection; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Interviewers’ perceptions; National Recruitment; Orthodontic Specialty Trainees (StR); interviewees’ perceptions; multi-station interview (MSI)