Program Website Evaluation of Canadian Obstetrics and Gynaecology Residency and Fellowship Programs

Cross-Sectional Analysis of Canadian Anesthesiology Residency Program Website Content

“…Residency websites effectively provided program information regarding research opportunities (17/17, 100%), curriculum/didactic learning (14/17, 82.4%), and assessments/evaluations (14/17, 82.4%) within the education and research domain. Similarly, a study of obstetrics and gynecology program websites in Canada and general surgery residency websites in the United States (US) and Puerto Rico found that research opportunities and didactic learning were prevalent criteria on residency program websites [ 11 , 20 ]. Additionally, an evaluation of 131 anesthesia residency program websites in the US reported that research program information was found in 88% (117/131) of programs, and educational program schedules were found in 67% (88/131) [ 4 ].…”

“…The study did not require research ethics board approval as publicly available data was evaluated (Tri-Council Policy Statement 2 Article 2.2). A 54-criteria system used to evaluate program websites was created using: (1) established criteria from previously published postgraduate medical program website evaluations [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 11 - 14 ]; (2) criteria relevant to anesthesiology training (e.g., simulation training) according to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) anesthesiology program standards [ 15 - 17 ]. The 54 criteria were organized into the following domains: recruitment, faculty information, resident information, education and research, clinical work, incentives, wellness, and environment (Table 1 ).…”

“…The trained reviewers independently analyzed each anesthesiology program website; the order of program websites for each reviewer was randomly selected using an online generator ( https://www.random.org/lists /). The reviewers were not blinded because they were viewing the actual website [ 11 , 19 ].…”

“…Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has only increased the reliance on virtual platforms for medical trainee recruitment, making program websites a major avenue to communicate program-specific information [ 8 - 10 ]. Despite this, postgraduate medical program websites across many specialties (e.g., obstetrics and gynecology, and radiology) lack important program content that is valued by prospective applicants [ 11 - 14 ].…”

“…This will help both medical trainees and program recruitment committees to find the most suitable match for their respective goals, aims, and needs. Accordingly, the objectives of our study were to: (1) assess the content available to prospective applicants on Canadian anesthesiology residency websites using established criteria [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 11 - 14 ]; (2) identify any content areas requiring improvement.…”