title: The Perception and Costs of the Interview Process for Plastic Surgery Residency Programs: Can the Process Be Streamlined?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to assess applicant perceptions and costs associated with the interview process for plastic surgery residency positions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional survey of applicants to the integrated- and independent-track residencies at the authors' institution. All applicants who were interviewed were invited to complete a Web-based survey on costs and perceptions of various components of the interview process. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed to compare applicants to the two program tracks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-three applicants were interviewed for residency positions; 48 completed a survey (90.5 percent response rate). Thirty-four applicants were candidates for the integrated program; 16 applicants were candidates for the independent program. The program spent $2763 per applicant interviewed; 63 percent of applicants spent more than $5000 on the interview process. More than 70 percent of applicants missed more than 7 days of work to attend interviews. Independent applicants felt less strongly that interviews were critical to the selection process and placed less value on physically visiting the hospital and direct, in-person interaction. Applicants placed little value on program informational talks. Applicants who had experience with virtual interviews felt more positively about the format of a video interview relative to those who did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The residency interview process is resource intensive for programs and applicants. Removing informational talks may improve the process. Making physical tours and in-person interviews optional are other alternatives that merit future study.
authors.affiliation: Seattle, Wash., and Baltimore, Md.|From the Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Wash.; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital; and the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Medical System.
authors.forename: Srinivas M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Susarla
authors.affiliation: Seattle, Wash., and Baltimore, Md.|From the Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Wash.; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital; and the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Medical System.
authors.forename: Edward W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.affiliation: Seattle, Wash., and Baltimore, Md.|From the Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Wash.; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital; and the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Medical System.
authors.forename: Sheri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Slezak
authors.affiliation: Seattle, Wash., and Baltimore, Md.|From the Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Wash.; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital; and the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Medical System.
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lifchez
authors.affiliation: Seattle, Wash., and Baltimore, Md.|From the Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Wash.; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital; and the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Medical System.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Redett
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000193:education*; D014481:United States