Table 3 The reasons the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the choice of training hospitals
| Â | N (%) |
|---|---|
Negative reasons (Multiple answers available) | Â |
Difficult to go on an on-site visit | 246Â (73.4) |
Online information sessions are insufficient in conveying the atmosphere of the program/hospital/staff | 220Â (65.7) |
Limited opportunity to practice for the interview and matching examination with classmates | 55 (16.4) |
The travel restrictions made it more competitive within the prefecture where the university is located. (6th-year medical students only) | 15 (4.5) |
Participation in away rotations is limited | 15 (4.5) |
Difficult to prepare for the final interview online (6th-year medical students only) | 10 (3.0) |
Positive reasons (Multiple answers available) | Â |
More time to gather information and consider hospitals that were not on my list of choices | 87 (58.0) |
Online information sessions gave more opportunities to appeal to the program staff. (Beneficial for programs that are far away and would have allowed a visit during vacation periods) | 24 (16.0) |