Background: In 2020, final year medical students applying for the United Kingdom’s competitive academic training posts face an additional challenge because interviews are conducted online rather than in-person. We assessed how this new format influences anxiety and the impact of a targeted course on candidates’ confidence levels.
Methods: A mixed-methods national teaching programme including online bespoke mock interviews was delivered to prospective Academic Foundation Programme applicants. Pre- and post-interview questionnaires assessed anxiety levels subjectively and using a Measure of Anxiety in Selection Interviews (MASI) scores.
Results: Individuals self-reported greater confidence, experience and preference for interviews delivered in-person as compared to online interviews. Post-course, there was an increase in self-reported confidence specific to online interviews (p = 0.009) and lower MASI scores in three of five domains, indicating reduced anxiety (social anxiety: p = 0.004, performance anxiety: p < 0.001, behavioral anxiety: p = 0.003).
Conclusion: A structured course can increase confidence and reduce anxiety for online academic medicine interviews.



中文翻译：

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虚拟面试，真正的焦虑：对申请学术临床职位的医学生信心水平的重点教学计划的前瞻性评估

背景：在 2020 年，申请英国竞争性学术培训职位的最后一年医学生面临着额外的挑战，因为面试是在线进行的，而不是面对面的。我们评估了这种新形式如何影响焦虑以及有针对性的课程对候选人信心水平的影响。
方法：向未来的学术预科课程申请者提供包括在线定制模拟面试在内的混合方法国家教学计划。面试前和面试后问卷主观评估焦虑水平，并使用选择面试中的焦虑量度 (MASI) 分数。
结果：与在线面试相比，个人对面对面面试的自信心、经验和偏好更高。课程结束后，针对在线面试的自述信心增加（p = 0.009），五个领域中的三个领域的 MASI 分数降低，表明焦虑减少（社交焦虑：p = 0.004，表现焦虑：p < 0.001，行为焦虑：p = 0.003）。
结论：结构化课程可以增加在线学术医学面试的信心并减少焦虑。