Examples of Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) for Medical Students
Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) are a series of short, structured interview stations designed to assess non-cognitive qualities in medical school applicants such as critical thinking, communication skills, ethical reasoning, and empathy.
Structure and Format of MMIs
MMIs typically follow this structure:
- 6-10 stations lasting 8-10 minutes each 1
- One interviewer per station (though some formats use multiple raters)
- Total assessment time of approximately 60-90 minutes
- Brief preparation time before entering each station (usually 2 minutes)
- Rotation through all stations in sequence
Common Types of MMI Stations
1. Ethical/Moral Dilemma Scenarios
- Stations presenting ethical challenges requiring candidates to:
- Analyze complex situations with competing values
- Demonstrate moral reasoning
- Consider multiple perspectives
- Articulate rationale for decisions
2. Communication Skills Assessment
- Scenarios requiring effective communication with:
- Standardized patients (actors portraying patients)
- Family members of patients
- Healthcare team members
- Individuals in distress
3. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
- Case-based scenarios requiring:
- Analysis of complex information
- Identification of key issues
- Development of logical solutions
- Addressing cognitive biases 2
4. Teamwork and Collaboration
- Stations assessing ability to:
- Work effectively in groups
- Demonstrate leadership qualities
- Resolve conflicts
- Contribute constructively to team goals 3
5. Personal Reflection Stations
- Questions exploring:
- Motivation for pursuing medicine
- Self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses
- Past experiences and their impact
- Response to feedback
Specific MMI Station Examples
Ethical Reasoning Station
- Scenario: A 15-year-old patient requests birth control but doesn't want her parents to know.
- Task: Discuss how you would approach this situation, considering legal, ethical, and professional obligations.
Communication Station
- Scenario: A standardized patient portraying someone who is upset about a long wait time.
- Task: Demonstrate how you would de-escalate the situation and address their concerns.
Critical Thinking Station
- Scenario: Review of clinical data with conflicting information.
- Task: Identify inconsistencies, prioritize information, and explain your reasoning process.
Teamwork Station
- Scenario: Group task requiring collaboration to solve a problem with limited resources.
- Task: Work with other candidates to develop and implement a solution within the time constraint.
Situational Judgment Station
- Scenario: You observe a fellow student cheating on an exam.
- Task: Explain how you would respond to this situation and why.
Assessment Domains in MMIs
The most frequently assessed domains across healthcare MMIs include:
- Communication skills (84% of MMIs)
- Teamwork/collaboration (70%)
- Ethical/moral judgment (65%)
- Empathy (assessed more frequently in nursing/midwifery programs)
- Decision-making (14%)
- Ability to cope with stressful situations (14%)
- Conflict resolution (13%) 3
Effectiveness and Reliability
- MMIs demonstrate moderate to high reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.69-0.98) 1
- They are better predictors of OSCE performance than traditional interviews 1
- MMIs show less bias related to gender, culture, and socioeconomic status than traditional interviews 1
- They are not strongly correlated with academic metrics, suggesting they measure different attributes 4
Implementation Considerations
- Stations should be aligned with the institution's educational goals and core values 4
- Structured debriefing sessions should follow MMI exercises to provide feedback 2
- Validated assessment tools should be used to measure both technical and non-technical skills 2
- Interviewers should receive proper training to ensure consistent evaluation
Best Practices for MMI Design
- Develop stations that reflect the institution's educational philosophy and professional body guidance 3
- Use blueprinting processes to ensure comprehensive coverage of desired attributes
- Include interprofessional perspectives in station development
- Ensure stations assess qualities needed for both academic success and clinical practice resilience
MMIs represent an evidence-based approach to selecting medical students with the personal attributes needed for success in healthcare professions, focusing on qualities beyond academic achievement that contribute to effective patient care and professional practice.