An admissions OSCE: the multiple mini-interview

Abstract

CONTEXT Although health sciences programmes continue to value non-cognitive variables such as interpersonal skills and professionalism, it is not clear that current admissions tools like the personal interview are capable of assessing ability in these domains. Hypothesising that many of the problems with the personal interview might be explained, at least in part, by it being yet another measurement tool that is plagued by context specificity, we have attempted to develop a multiple sample approach to the personal interview.METHODS A group of 117 applicants to the undergraduate MD programme at McMaster University participated in a multiple mini-interview (MMI), consisting of 10 short objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)-style stations, in which they were presented with scenarios that required them to discuss a health-related issue (e.g. the use of placebos) with an interviewer, interact with a standardised confederate while an examiner observed the interpersonal skills displayed, or answer traditional interview questions.RESULTS The reliability of the MMI was observed to be 0.65. Furthermore, the hypothesis that context specificity might reduce the validity of traditional interviews was supported by the finding that the variance component attributable to candidate-station interaction was greater than that attributable to candidate. Both applicants and examiners were positive about the experience and the potential for this protocol.DISCUSSION The principles used in developing this new admissions instrument, the flexibility inherent in the multiple mini-interview, and its feasibility and cost-effectiveness are discussed.

Using multiple mini interviews as a pre-screening tool for medical student candidates completing international health electives

“…Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) are a series of highly structured, focused stations or encounters with separate interviewers or observers [4,5]. During the interview, participants are rated on their skill at deciphering an ethical conflict or problem and articulate a response to the hypothetical situation that reflects elements of emotional intelligence or psychological maturity [4,6].…”

“…Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) are a series of highly structured, focused stations or encounters with separate interviewers or observers [4,5]. During the interview, participants are rated on their skill at deciphering an ethical conflict or problem and articulate a response to the hypothetical situation that reflects elements of emotional intelligence or psychological maturity [4,6]. The purpose of the MMI is not to develop a station where there is a right or wrong answer, but rather to develop stations that can illuminate interviewee skills such as critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and personal and social awareness [4,5,7].…”

“…Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) were first piloted by McMaster University in Ontario, Canada as a new, more valid method of medical school applicant screening [4]. MMIs were designed to elicit details of applicants’ abilities in areas such as interpersonal skills, communication skills, teamwork skills, and professionalism, which are highly valued in the health professions [4].…”

“…MMIs were designed to elicit details of applicants’ abilities in areas such as interpersonal skills, communication skills, teamwork skills, and professionalism, which are highly valued in the health professions [4]. Traditional interview methods have been found to have poor predictive validity.…”

“…Furthermore, they are fraught with inter-rater reliability and problems related to the implicit bias of interviewers. Currently, health professions schools in the areas of dentistry, physician’s assistant, pharmacy, paramedicine, nursing, and midwifery; medical schools; and residency programs in North America and the United Kingdom are using the MMI for selecting candidates for their programs [4,6–12]. …”