Medical Student Teleconferencing Experiences and Financial Status: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: Teleconferencing issues may affect the online experiences of medical students during medical education and residency interview evaluation, yet teleconferencing experiences among medical students with varying financial status have not been examined. Methods: In October of 2020, the authors conducted a cross-sectional single-institution survey of fourth-year UCLA medical students on self-reported financial status, teleconferencing issues experienced, preparations made for online residency interviews, and satisfaction with teleconferencing equipment. Responses of students who self-identified as financially disadvantaged were compared to those of students without financial hardship using Fisher’s exact tests. Results: Of 268 students, 67 responded (25%), and 27 (40%) of respondents identified as financially disadvantaged. A majority of students reported problems with internet connectivity (75%) and audio quality (51%). Nearly one-third of students (30%) reported plans to improve their internet connectivity for online residency interviews. Of respondents, 58% were satisfied with the quality of their teleconferencing equipment. Students dissatisfied with their equipment were more likely to report audio problems (68% vs. 38%, P = 0.03) and internet connectivity issues (89% vs. 64%, P = 0.01). Financial status was not significantly associated with teleconferencing issues, device age, satisfaction with teleconferencing equipment, or the amount that students would be willing to spend on acquiring new equipment. Conclusion: Teleconferencing issues, particularly audio and internet problems, are highly prevalent among fourth-year medical students and are associated with dissatisfaction with teleconferencing equipment but not self-reported financial status. The influence of teleconferencing issues on student evaluation outcomes warrants further investigation.