The Virtual Mock Oral Examination: A Multi-institutional Study of Resident and Faculty Receptiveness

• Published in: OTO open : the official open access journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery Foundation Vol. 5; no. 1; pp. 2473974X21997392 - n/a
• Main Authors: Goodman, Joseph F., Saini, Prashant, Straughan, Alexander J., Badger, Christopher D., Thakkar, Punam, Zapanta, Philip E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.01.2021; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Likert scale; Medical education; mock orals; MOE; oral boards; Otolaryngology; resident education; Short Scientific Communication; virtual oral examination; COVID-19; oral boards; MOE; mock orals; virtual oral examination; resident education
• ISSN: 2473-974X; 2473-974X
• DOI: 10.1177/2473974X21997392

Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, several American Board of Medical Specialties members have implemented board exams in an online format. In response, we decided to evaluate the efficacy and receptiveness of otolaryngology faculty and residents to a web-based virtual mock oral examination (MOE). Faculty and residents from DC-metropolitan institutions were recruited for decentralized virtual MOE in early 2020. A total of 28 faculty and 20 residents signed up. Follow-up included a survey study consisting of Likert scale and free-text questions to evaluate receptiveness. Helpfulness of the exercise was rated as an average of 8.8 and 9.06, respectively, by faculty and residents on a 10-point Likert scale. Likelihood to recommend a similar exercise to others was 9.2 and 9.3, respectively, for faculty and residents. All survey respondents said they would participate again if given the opportunity. We conclude that existing videoconferencing technologies can be effective tools for conducting virtual MOE by otolaryngology residency programs.