title: The Interactive Candidate Assessment Tool: A New Way to Interview Residents.
abstract: The purpose of the residency interview is to determine the extent to which a well-qualified applicant is a good fit with a residency program. However, questions asked during residency interviews tend to be standard and repetitive, and they may not elicit information that best differentiates one applicant from another. The iCAT (interactive Candidate Assessment Tool) is a novel interview instrument that allows both interviewers and interviewees to learn about each other in a meaningful way. The iCAT uses a tablet computer to enable the candidate to select questions from an array of video and nonvideo vignettes. Vignettes include recorded videos regarding some aspect of the program, while other icons include questions within recognizable categories. Postinterview surveys demonstrated advantages over traditional interview methods, with 93% agreeing that it was an innovative and effective tool for conducting residency program interviews. The iCAT for residency interviews is a technological advancement that facilitates in-depth candidate assessment.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Platt
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Anesthesiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Vafa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Akhtar-Khavari
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Anesthesiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Tabitha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fineberg
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Grundfast
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education*; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: resident applications; resident interview; resident education