Panel Interviews Research Articles

Reifying discrimination on the path to school leadership: Black female principals’ experiences of district hiring/promotion practices

Using intersectionality as a guiding framework, this qualitative study focuses on the hiring/promotion experiences of 20 Black female principals and explores how their hiring/promotion practices reified and/or interrupted traditional discriminatory pathways to school leadership. We find that gendered racism operated across all facets of the principal recruitment and hiring processes in which these women participated. First, relationships and political connections with those already in power (e.g., predominately White men) seemed to be a key mechanism for entering the applicant pool and, later, accessing leadership opportunities. Opportunities were often explicitly racialized such that considerations for leadership positions were stated as being based on the participants being Black. Second, interview processes were frequently described as more performative than substantive with many of the women highlighting questions and comments that reinforced problematic tropes about Black women. Questions also abounded about whether interview panels were reflective of the community and/or if the questions were standardized to ensure fairness and transparency. Finally, district level hiring decisions were frequently disconnected from the interview process and lacked transparency with superintendents, in particular, who overrode or ignored prior steps in, or recommendation from, the school-based part of the process. In this way, findings suggest a hiring/promotion system desperately in need of revision starting with the most basic design features (e.g., standardized interview questions, transparent performance indicators, process accountability via decision-making) and including disrupting discrimination across all facets of the system.

Development of a Digital Health Capability Framework for Allied Health Practitioners: An Australian First

Background: The value of digital health technologies and their contribution to high-quality and safe clinical care and enhanced health patient experience and outcomes is well established. Digital health technologies are increasingly being used by Victorian allied health professionals (AHPs) in routine service delivery, the uptake of which has been significantly accelerated by the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Objectives: This case study outlines the development of a capability framework to support Victorian AHPs, health services, other employers, and university training partners to measure and expand digital health capability at individual practitioner and workforce levels. Methods: A mixed-methods approach to the development of digital health and clinical informatics capabilities and the resultant framework is described, consisting of five phases: (i) a literature/scoping review to identify existing frameworks (ii) expert panel interviews, (iii) thematic analysis of interview themes, (iv) user testing and feedback and, (v) revision based on feedback. Results: This approach proved successful in managing key challenges that emerged during the project, as well as identifying potential barriers and enablers to longer term framework adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Conclusion: This study describes a mixed-methods approach to the development of an Australian-first, Allied health digital health capability framework to address knowledge and skills development at individual practitioner and workforce levels. This case study highlights the need for targeted education and training resources to support the health workforce to build capability in the application and use of digital health technologies. In developing a digital capability framework specific to the allied health workforce, the importance of stakeholder consultation in the early identification of barriers and enablers to potential uptake and implementation is also reinforced.

Final global leadership development program (GLDP) design: Where do we go from here? Global evidence from Europe, the US, and Brazil

AbstractThe development of high potentials within global companies remains a challenge in leadership development in the face of increasingly dynamic environments. Despite this, we know surprisingly little about the practices business schools and corporations follow when it comes to Global Leadership Development Programs (GLDP). In this article, we derive critical success factors of the components of a GLDP leveraging evidence of 90 conducted panel interviews with global human resources experts and qualitative analysis of 33 GLDPs, 20 high‐level executive storytelling about competences and practical key elements leading successful and results‐driven change in their global companies, and 12 interviews with executive education directors. We examine within a grounded theory approach two overall under‐explored questions. What is a successful GLDP? Moreover, how to design it? What are the critical success factors in designing a GLDP? We derive a checklist to help implement future GLDPs within their global organizations. Our findings and discussion outline future research recommendations and provide advice for GLDP designers within Executive Education or HR Development contexts.

An appraisal of the early impact of COVID-19 on affordable housing finance in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030

PurposeAffordable housing provision is one of the visions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), as highlighted in Vision 2030. For about 21 months now, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has ravaged the world and has increased the level of economic crisis and financial uncertainty to achieve planned projects. Studies investigating the reality of how the COVID-19 pandemic may streamline the chances of achieving affordable housing for all in 2030 are scarce. Thus, this study examined the relevance of affordable housing, the perceived impact of COVID-19 on affordable housing and proffered measures to promote affordable housing finance in Vision 2030.Design/methodology/approachMedina, Riyadh and Al Qassim were the participants' cities engaged via panel interviews and supported by existing relevant Vision 2030 documents. The Delphi method was adopted to explore the government officials, financial operators (bankers), academicians and employees' opinions, and the analysed data presented in themes.FindingsFindings show that SA Vision 2030 blueprint expresses an exemplary country in all ramifications, including affordable housing finance for the citizens. Findings reveal that the COVID-19 pandemic threatens SA affordable housing finance Vision 2030. The increased housing shortage, high construction housing cost, increased foreclosures, increased eviction, possible homelessness, financial instability and vulnerability emerged as the perceived impact of COVID-19 on affordable housing finance in Vision 2030. Refinancing housing loans to boost Vision 2030, forbearance to promote Vision 2030, improve payment relief, among others, emerged as measures to promote affordable housing in the post-COVID-19 era.Research limitations/implicationsThe research only identified the possible negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on affordable housing finance in Vision 2030 and proffered policy solutions from the engaged participants' perspective. Also, the study covered three cities (Medina, Riyadh and Al Qassim). The suggestions that will emerge from this research may be adopted to address other sectors captured in Vision 2030 that are critical and hit by the ravaging pandemic.Practical implicationsMeasures such as refinancing mortgages and strengthening government housing agencies will promote affordable housing for Vision 2030 if the relevant policymakers and mortgage institutions are well implemented.Originality/valueThis research identified the perceived early threats from the COVID-19 pandemic that could affect affordable housing transformation in Vision 2030 from the participants' perspective. Studies regarding COVID-19 and affordable housing in Vision 2030 are very few.

Assessing patient experience with patient safety in primary care: development and validation of the ASK-ME-questionnaire

ObjectiveTo develop and test the validity and reliability of a tool measuring patient experiences with patient safety in ambulatory care that is suitable for routine use in general practitioner and...

Diversity Practices for Hiring the New Graduate Nurse.

A multistep selection process was established to assist in securing top talent while achieving diversity objectives for a nurse residency program. The selection process incorporated objective scoring tools, diverse panel interviews, unconscious bias training, and standardized interview questions to decrease unconscious and implicit bias. As a result, the entry-level nursing workforce has become more diversified by race, gender, age, and academic training.

The critical role of funders in shrinking the carbon footprint of research

The critical role of funders in shrinking the carbon footprint of research

Gender Equality Provided by Active Action in Recruitment and Selection Process

THE AIM OF THE PAPER
 Despite all the efforts in relation to hiring women to workplaces, parity has not yet been achieved, and the gap between women and men is even wider when leadership roles are considered. Organizations are gendered, the human resource practices are outdated and are still structured around the ideal, male worker. The main objective of this paper is to critically review the recruitment and selection process (RSP) and provide active actions as practical recommendations, which will enable organisations to hire women into the workplaces.
 METHODOLOGY
 This research is an empirical study of large multinational organizations, identifying the key human resource policy intervention points in the RSP.
 MOST IMPORTANT RESULTS
 The outcome of the critical review is that the traditional RSP needs to be transformed and only this transformation – applying positive actions - will enable organisations to achieve gender equality at the workplace. The novelty of this paper is the empirical research of global organizations, based on which, the key intervention points of RSM were identified. The following active actions are proposed: embed employer branding and early talent attraction into the recruitment process; provide transparency of salary bands; apply of female quotas; use structured interviews; run diverse interview panels; and use explicit comparator method.

ICRE Top Research Abstracts

ICRE Top Research Abstracts

Gender-equal funding rates conceal unequal evaluations

Previous studies have found little or no systematic differences in the rates at which female and male scientists are awarded funding in international grant competitions. However, past investigations have only studied outcomes, not the preceding scoring and selection process. We propose that common grant review practices–such as panel deliberations, score binning, and interview assessments–allow unequal evaluations to be corrected while staying within a framework of merit-based review. We analyzed unique data from a large funding competition, the Netherlands’ Organization for Scientific Research's Talent Program, including reviewer and panel evaluation scores of both funded and unfunded proposals. We replicate prior research demonstrating gender equity in funding outcomes. At the same time, we find that men received higher evaluation scores, consistent with our argument. This gender difference is counteracted by panels funding women with lower scores than men's, redistributing 64 million euro back to women that would otherwise have gone to men. Our study thus reveals that female scientists are more poorly evaluated than their male counterparts in spite of what equality in outcome statistics might suggest.

VIRTUAL ADAPTATION OF MULTIMODAL CARDIAC SURGERY RESIDENCY INTERVIEW DURING COVID-19

BACKGROUND The Canadian residency match process has required adaptations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as in-person interviews and out-of-city electives were cancelled. Though an online virtual panel interview is feasible, it may not provide the most holistic assessment especially in the absence of a clinical elective. Our cardiac surgery residency program has previously established a multimodal interview to evaluate a candidate's situational awareness, ability to perform under pressure, and suitability for our specific program. Within the new COVID-19 constraints, we have adapted our multimodal evaluation strategy for the 2021 Cardiac Surgery CaRMS Interview. As virtual interview strategies may continue for the upcoming residency match cycle, our comprehensive approach may provide a sustainable solution. METHODS AND RESULTS The multimodal evaluation strategy consists of a written situational judgement test (SJT), multiple-mini-interview (MMI) session and panel interview, which were all converted to an online format (Image). The paper-based SJT requires applicants to read a scenario and rank appropriate responses from most to least appropriate and was converted to an online format using Google Forms. The MMI was carried out using Zoom conference software with 8 breakout rooms from which the applicants would move virtually with Zoom functions. Two interviewers were in the same room at our center using one laptop and each applicant accessed the Zoom meeting from their own computer. The panel interview was also carried out using Zoom conference software with multiple interviewers and one interviewee accessing the meeting from their own personal computer. To coordinate the event, a WhatsApp group was made and coordinated by two interviewers (VV and AB) to provide instructions to applicants and answer questions. Survey results for interviewer and applicant experiences are listed in the accompanying table. CONCLUSION Our comprehensive multimodal interview strategy allows for a holistic evaluation of applicants and was successfully adapted to a virtual format in a time where in-person interviews and electives were deemed infeasible. This strategy was well received by applicants and interviewers. As a long-term solution and reliable alternative will be needed moving forward, this method is a viable strategy for future virtual CaRMS cycles. Furthermore, as residency interview tours have notoriously been financially taxing on applicants, this online strategy will be a sustainable alternative even after travel restrictions are lifted. In the future, this virtual strategy can be combined with clinical electives to provide a cost-effective evaluation of potential candidates for residency. The Canadian residency match process has required adaptations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as in-person interviews and out-of-city electives were cancelled. Though an online virtual panel interview is feasible, it may not provide the most holistic assessment especially in the absence of a clinical elective. Our cardiac surgery residency program has previously established a multimodal interview to evaluate a candidate's situational awareness, ability to perform under pressure, and suitability for our specific program. Within the new COVID-19 constraints, we have adapted our multimodal evaluation strategy for the 2021 Cardiac Surgery CaRMS Interview. As virtual interview strategies may continue for the upcoming residency match cycle, our comprehensive approach may provide a sustainable solution. The multimodal evaluation strategy consists of a written situational judgement test (SJT), multiple-mini-interview (MMI) session and panel interview, which were all converted to an online format (Image). The paper-based SJT requires applicants to read a scenario and rank appropriate responses from most to least appropriate and was converted to an online format using Google Forms. The MMI was carried out using Zoom conference software with 8 breakout rooms from which the applicants would move virtually with Zoom functions. Two interviewers were in the same room at our center using one laptop and each applicant accessed the Zoom meeting from their own computer. The panel interview was also carried out using Zoom conference software with multiple interviewers and one interviewee accessing the meeting from their own personal computer. To coordinate the event, a WhatsApp group was made and coordinated by two interviewers (VV and AB) to provide instructions to applicants and answer questions. Survey results for interviewer and applicant experiences are listed in the accompanying table. Our comprehensive multimodal interview strategy allows for a holistic evaluation of applicants and was successfully adapted to a virtual format in a time where in-person interviews and electives were deemed infeasible. This strategy was well received by applicants and interviewers. As a long-term solution and reliable alternative will be needed moving forward, this method is a viable strategy for future virtual CaRMS cycles. Furthermore, as residency interview tours have notoriously been financially taxing on applicants, this online strategy will be a sustainable alternative even after travel restrictions are lifted. In the future, this virtual strategy can be combined with clinical electives to provide a cost-effective evaluation of potential candidates for residency.

STUDENTS PERCEPTION ABOUT THE ROLE OF INTERVIEW DURING M.PHIL AND PH.D. ADMISSION AT A PUBLIC SECTOR UNIVERSITY OF LAHORE, PUNJAB-PAKISTAN

Purpose of the Study: Focusing on the importance of the research interview, the researchers planned current qualitative research to explore students’ perceptions about the role of an interview conducted during the selection of M.Phil and Ph.D. admission in one of the public sector University of Lahore, Punjab-Pakistan. Methodology: The researchers adopted qualitative research leading to interpretivism paradigm. This study adopted a phenomenology research design. The researchers selected five M.Phil and five Ph.D. scholars were selected by using purposive technique. The researchers administered a self-constructed interview protocol to collect the data from the respondents. After signing a formal consent letter from participants, the researchers recorded interviews from the respondents in voice recorders and transcribed the interviews word by word. The researchers used thematic analysis approach to analyze the data. Main Findings: The results declared that the majority of the students agreed that personality has a better effect during the interview; slight sensation of nervousness before the interview; disturbed bodily condition before interview panel; friendly, cooperative, and supportive behaviour of interview panel; comfortable environment; enriched institute with qualified foreign faculty; fully confident after the interview for admission; asking of relevant questions and they get admission in to enhance their qualification for getting good-paying job and knowledge. Applications of this study: The results of the current research are applicable in public and private sector universities of Punjab, including district Lahore in which experiential and dynamic teachers are the members of the selection panel. They were aware of students perceptions while conducting interviews and familiar with their exact situations that happened in the committee rooms, as the students/applicant are the real observe of their teachers. Novelty/Originality of this study: This is the innovative and foremost research structured in Pakistani public sector educational institutions in which the authors highlighted the actual situations that happened between the interviewer and the interviewee during M.Phil and Ph.D admission. The authors have also contributed to the existing body of knowledge. The findings of the research have opened the horizon for future researchers to explore the dimension of the interviews focusing on the quantitative and mix-method design on a large sample of the participants.

Gender and payments for environmental services: impacts of participation, benefit-sharing and conservation activities in Viet Nam

AbstractThere has been a rapid expansion in the use of payments for environmental services (PES) as a key conservation finance policy. However, there is insufficient understanding of how gender can affect PES implementation and outcomes. We present results from a case study in Viet Nam, where a national PES programme has been in place for a decade. Through panel household survey data, focus groups and interviews, we examined how women have been involved in PES policies, what the impacts have been on decision-making by men and women, participation rates and use of PES income over time, and the potential conservation outcomes. Our research confirms that resource use varies between men and women, and changes in access rights can fall disproportionately on women. Participation in PES has been lower for female-headed households and for women within male-headed households, although gradually more equitable participation has evolved within households. Female-headed households reported expending more yearly effort on PES activities despite protecting less land, and also increased their conservation activities over time as they presumably became more familiar with PES. Use of income from PES also showed differences between male and female-led households, with men more likely to spend funds on non-essential goods. Within households, although men initially decided how to spend PES money, decision-making has become more equitable over time. We conclude with some recommendations on how to increase attention to gender in PES projects and future research to improve outcomes.

Peer Résumé Reviews and Mock Panel Interviews: Nursing Student Role Transitions.

Peer Résumé Reviews and Mock Panel Interviews: Nursing Student Role Transitions.

PEMETAAN DIMENSI KUALITAS PELAYANAN KESEHATAN HEWAN DARI PERSPEKTIF PENYEDIA DAN PENERIMA PELAYANAN MEDIS VETERINER

Background: 
 The increasing demand for veterinary medical service quality from community has been increasing as seen on the raising of lawsuit for veterinary services since 2008. The description
 of veterinary healthcare service quality in Indonesia was still unclear which part of quality dimension play the role to describe quality in veterinary healthcare service, especially in clinical area.
 Objective: This study aimed to determine the dimensions that influence the quality of veterinary medical services from the perspective and expectations of clients and providers.
 Methods: Qualitative Explorative as research design. Data Collection was done by 17 In-Depth Interview with 14 service providers and 3 service clients with addition 1 panel interview with 4 cat owner from cat lovers community and 1 panel interview with 2 dog owner.
 All respondent must have experienced with providing/receiving veterinary healthcare service. Interview Data then transcribed followed
 with Coding, Categorizing, and being made into Themes with Atlas.ti application which Themes become the fundamental of Quality Dimension of Veterinary Healthcare service.
 Results: The interview produced 20 transcripts that were coded subcategory categories-themes. The results of the categories obtained have the capacity as a dimension of the quality of veterinary medical services in the form of: managerial services; internal
 provider communication; professionalism of the provider; service competency, communication skills; client education, honesty and transparency; service security; service facilities; the dynamics of the world of service; service outputs and outcomes; and client assurance.
 Conclusion: The category becomes the dimension of service quality in D.I. Yogyakarta contains 11 service quality dimensions which are divided into 3 themes. The theme is the value of service; communication and interaction between service providers and clients; and clients demands. This theme affects the veterinary medical services especially in the D.I area. Yogyakarta.
 

Marketing students' meta-skills and employability: between the lines of social capital in the context of the teaching excellence framework

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to examine the role of social capital and higher order meta-skills in developing the employability of marketing students at a UK university.Design/methodology/approachThis conceptual article, bolstered by illustrative primary data, provides a broader conceptualisation of employability. This is to address the specific research question on how social capital (contacts and connections) is deployed (via capability-based higher order meta-skills) in a UK university developing the employability of a specific group of students. The article is situated in the highly fraught context of teaching excellence measurement schemes [such as the teaching excellence framework (TEF) in the UK].FindingsThe research findings highlighted the role of social capital and higher order meta-skills in developing the employability of marketing students at a UK university.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the illustrative primary data are not generalisable, as they are limited to one group of marketing students in one UK university; the conceptual development, including a new social capital based definition of employability that incorporated the capabilities, provided by higher-order meta-skills, is widely applicable.Practical implicationsThe article has highlighted how the impact of social capital, etiquette and meta-skills, while being “between the lines” of the employability discourse and the metrics of the TEF, explains the differing perceptions of the value of employability initiatives. The article highlights the grey area of between the reasons given as to why some candidates are valued over others. Perhaps no rhyme or reason sometimes, just the “hidden” perception/interpretations of the interview panel of the “qualities” of one candidate over another.Originality/valueThe difficulty in ascertaining the influence of social capital (and how it can be deployed through higher-order meta-skills as capabilities) results in challenges for universities as they endeavour to respond to the data requirements of “learning gain” within teaching excellent measurement schemes such as the UK teaching excellence framework.

Systemic racism and overcoming my COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

On December 19, 2020 I received my first dose of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. I had decided only about 10 days before to take the vaccine in the first round, if given the opportunity. My hesitation may come as a surprise to some. As a physician, scientist, and epidemiologist, many may have thought that I would be ready, with my sleeve up, as soon as the Phase 3 clinical trials began. However, long before I was a physician or a scientist, I am a Black woman. As a Black woman, I have borne witness to the very system that says it is ready to protect me with a vaccine, systematically disempower my community, putting many at risk of comorbidity and death. How could I in good conscious then agree to take a vaccine, developed, under an administration that has been nothing short of oppressive to people of color, without reviewing the data myself? Once the trial data became available, I spent several days buffing up on my immunology so that I could better understand mRNA technology. I listened to panel interviews that included physicians of color with expertise in infectious disease. I read the trials’ inclusion and exclusion criteria. I looked at every line of Table 1 to ensure there were people in the trials that looked like the people in my family. I combed over the efficacy data and every adverse event. After my immunology and vaccinology immersion, I walked into that room to be vaccinated with less trepidation in my heart. More than 1 in 470 Black residents have died in Michigan and New Jersey from COVID-19; more than 1 in 410 Latinos in New York; more than 1 in 200 Indigenous people in New Mexico [[1]The color of coronavirus: 2020 year in review.December 23, 2020https://www.apmresearchlab.org/Google Scholar]. The medical community recognized the racial disparity in COVID-19 mortality early in the pandemic. However, it should be clarified that the COVID-19 virus does not discriminate; but our systems have and do. The virus amplified and exposed for all to see structural racism—institutions, laws, policies, and regulations that lead to uneven distribution of education, job opportunities, and criminal justice between races. Structural racism and unequal distribution of the social determinants of health in turn leads to social need—housing and food insecurity, deficits in literacy and social networks. This failure leads to crowded homes, lack of private transportation, and less health care access. These unhealthy environments contribute to disease risk factors like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension which put those subjected to systemic racism at risk for death from COVID-19. The racial disparity in COVID-19 mortality has nothing to do with race and everything to do with structural racism. So despite over 10 years of medical education, I walked in to get my vaccine with some uncertainty in my heart. If you cannot comprehend how my experience of structural racism can overpower a decade of medical education, then you will have a hard time understanding vaccine hesitancy in communities of color. For communities of color to have significant vaccine uptake, it is going to take more than a few photos of medical professionals on social media getting the vaccine. As a medical community we need to have our ambassadors acknowledge our failures in gaining their trust. Unfortunately, this lack of trust is not just the result of residual pain from past atrocities like the Tuskegee experiments. On December 20th, Dr. Susan Moore, a Black physician died of COVID-19 after video recounting her experience with racism at my own institution. Many patients of color, including myself, can describe present-day experiences in the health care system where we have been discounted, ignored, and devalued. As a medical community we need to acknowledge our wrongdoing and commit to training our current workforce to do better in the future. A commitment by our governments and the medical community to distribute the vaccine quickly and equitably to the most devastated communities of color first would go a long way towards relationship building. To continue to highlight the disparities in mortality from COVID-19, yet make no concerted effort to mitigate that disparity is a counterproductive strategy, and will not move relationships with communities of color forward. On January 19th, I was among the privileged, who recieved their second dose of the vaccine gaining 95% protection from this deadly virus. We have lost so many. We must and we can do what is needed to get this vaccine to the vulnerable communities that need it the most. The author has no conflicts of interests or disclosures to report.

Psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the clinical learning environment comparison survey.

AimTo translate The Clinical Learning Environment Comparison Survey (CLECS) into Norwegian and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Norwegian version.DesignA cross‐sectional survey including a longitudinal component.MethodsThe CLECS was translated into Norwegian following the World Health Organization guidelines, including forward translation, expert panel, back‐translation, pre‐testing and cognitive interviewing. Nursing students at a Norwegian university college were invited to participate in the study (psychometrical testing) based on informed consent. Reliability and validity of the translated version of CLECS were investigated using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), Cronbach's alpha and test–retest analysis.ResultsA total of 122 nursing students completed the questionnaire and Cronbach alphas for the CLECS subscales ranged from 0.69 to 0.89. CFA goodness‐of‐fit indices (χ2/df = 1.409, CFI = 0.915, RMSEA = 0.058) showed acceptable model fit. Test–retest ICC ranged from 0.55 to 0.75, except for two subscales with values below 0.5

How to be successful in an academic interview in pediatric oncology: A survey of Children's Oncology Group (COG) and International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) mentors.

A successful academic interview has been reported as the most important factor contributing to ranking of candidates for residency. However, little published guidance exists to help a prospective oncologist or researcher give such an interview. The International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) Young Investigator (YI) Network and Children's Oncology Group (COG) YI group thus cosponsored a survey of senior investigators seeking their advice. An electronic survey covering aspects of the academic interview of both trainees and faculty were sent to all current/past mentors serving in the COG YI mentorship program and those registered as mentors in the SIOP YI mentorship program. The responses were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. The response rate was 43.7% (118/270) from 25 countries. Majority of United States (US) interviewers (86.8%) conducted interviews individually, while 74% of non-US interviewers conducted panel interviews or both types equally (P<.001). Majority of interviewers (83.4%) at least occasionally contacted colleagues for off the record opinions on candidates, and 40.9% conducted an internet or social media search. Enthusiasm for the job (97.2%) and being a team player (95.3%) were the qualities most rated as at least moderately important, while a priority for work-life balance (45.4%) and having interests/hobbies outside of medicine (29.2%) were considered less important. Interviewers provided interview questions, tips for candidates, and key pitfalls to avoid. Candidates should prepare for their academic interviews in advance, be enthusiastic and honest when giving responses. Detailed guidance for those applying at different career stages and in different countries are provided.

A scoping review of admission criteria and selection methods in nursing education

BackgroundNursing education institutions are required to select and train applicants who have appropriate characteristics for delivering effective healthcare. Unlike other healthcare professions and despite the need to attract and select a competent workforce, there has been no comprehensive analysis of the selection criteria and methods used to recruit nursing students. As there is relatively limited prior research available, we conducted a scoping review to explore and synthesise the existing evidence regarding admission criteria and selection methods of nursing students and for the purpose of identifying an agenda for future research in this field.MethodsOur scoping review follows the Arksey and O’Malley five-step proposition including identifying the research question and relevant studies, study selection, tabulation of data, and summarizing and reporting the results. Seven databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, ERIC, SID, Irandoc and PsycINFO) were searched systematically using relevant keywords. Articles on admission of undergraduate nursing students published in both English and/or Persian from 2006 to 2019 were retrieved.ResultsExisting research evidence suggests that nursing students are largely selected on the basis of two criteria - “cognitive-academic abilities” and “non-cognitive abilities.” Cognitive-academic abilities were assessed in four main dimensions of mathematics, language, natural sciences and reasoning skills mainly through standardized tests and academic records. Our review shows a wide range of non-cognitive characteristics are evaluated in nursing applicants including: morality, interpersonal communication skills and psychological strength. The selection method most commonly used to assess characteristics was through interviews (panel interviews or multiple mini interviews). Other methods included references, personal statements and personality assessment tools.ConclusionsThis is the first scoping review of literature regarding nursing education selection and recruitment. Results can be used to inform nursing education policymakers and institutions in the design of their selection practices. Future research should concentrate on the evaluation and improvement methods of student selection including content and predictive validity analysis of multiple mini interview and standardized tests, development of cost-effective selection methods and job analysis studies to identify specific non-cognitive characteristics for nursing.