title: What does the multiple mini interview have to offer over the panel interview?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This paper compares the panel interview (PI) performance with the multiple mini interview (MMI) performance and indication of behavioural concerns of a sample of medical school applicants. The acceptability of the MMI was also assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  All applicants shortlisted for a PI were invited to an MMI. Applicants attended a 30-min PI with two faculty interviewers followed by an MMI consisting of ten 8-min stations. Applicants were assessed on their performance at each MMI station by one faculty. The interviewer also indicated if they perceived the applicant to be a concern. Finally, applicants completed an acceptability questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the analysis of 133 (75.1%) completed MMI scoresheets, the MMI scores correlated statistically significantly with the PI scores (r=0.438, p=0.001). Both were not statistically associated with sex, age, race, or pre-university academic ability to any significance. Applicants assessed as a concern at two or more stations performed statistically significantly less well at the MMI when compared with those who were assessed as a concern at one station or none at all. However, there was no association with PI performance. Acceptability scores were generally high, and comparison of mean scores for each of the acceptability questionnaire items did not show statistically significant differences between sex and race categories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although PI and MMI performances are correlated, the MMI may have the added advantage of more objectively generating multiple impressions of the applicant's interpersonal skill, thoughtfulness, and general demeanour. Results of the present study indicated that the MMI is acceptable in a multicultural context.
authors.affiliation: Division of Community and Child Oral Health, School of Dentistry, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; allan_pau@imu.edu.my.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pau
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Biology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yu Sui
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Verna Kar Mun
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chew Fei
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Sow
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ranjit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Alwis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: multiple mini interview; panel interview; students admission; students selection