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Invited Applicant Evaluation of an Online Interview Scheduler Implemented by a Residency Program in Obstetrics and Gynecology

From the ¹Women and Infants Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.

OBJECTIVE: To assess invited resident applicants’ views of the feasibility and acceptability of a point-and-click online interview scheduler.

METHODS: An online program was created for invited applicants to schedule themselves. The program presented the invitees with a series of interview dates with available slots for which they could click and receive immediate confirmation of their selected date. The majority of the invitees were asked to schedule online. These invitees received a brief survey to assess their views of the online scheduler.

RESULTS: Eighty-three applicants were invited by e-mail for a resident interview, 71 of whom were offered the online scheduler. Of these 100% booked themselves online within 3–4 days of invitation. After three e-mail reminders 100% of the invitees completed the survey. Sixty-five of the 71 (92%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 85.4–98.6) said they liked the scheduling program, and most (77%, 95% CI 67.2–86.8) preferred to book online rather than telephone or e-mail. Eighty percent (95% CI 70.7–89.3) found the online scheduler easier to use. Overall, 72% (95% CI 60.5–81.6) felt that having an on-line scheduler did not affect their opinion of the quality of the program. Invitees in favor of the scheduler liked the convenience of anytime scheduling, the immediate confirmation, a quick view of available dates and times, and the ability to schedule without depending on someone else.

CONCLUSION: Our online scheduler proved to be easy to use, eliminated phone calls with applicants, and satisfied most of the invitees.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III