What Prospective Applicants Look for on Otolaryngology Residency Websites

Abstract

Objective: To determine what prospective residency applicants look for on otolaryngology residency program websites. Study Design: Survey. Setting: The survey was distributed in a virtual format through Google Forms. A link to the survey was given at the University at Buffalo Otolaryngology Chautauqua, sent to Otolaryngology program directors with requests to forward to PGY1 residents and Otolaryngology interest groups, sent to medical school Otolaryngology interest group leaders, posted on Twitter through several accounts, and on otomatch.com Methods: A 45 item survey was given to fourth year medical students applying to otolaryngology, re-applicants applying to otolaryngology, and first year otolaryngology residents who had recently matched. Data collected included participant’s age, sex, race and ethnicity, current status in school/residency program, and their type of medical degree (MD or DO). Participants were then asked to mark the components listed that they wished to see. Components were separated into 5 categories: Application/Selection Criteria, Employment Aspects, Program Features, Social/Community, and Faculty/Contact Information. Data was analyzed using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal Wallis tests when appropriate. P value <.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: One hundred one surveys were collected. Sixty-four (63.4%) participants were fourth-year medical students, 32 (31.7%) were first-year residents, and 5 (5.0%) were re-applicants. Thirteen of the items on the survey were sought by 80% or more of respondents. Ninety-nine (98.0%) of the participants wanted to see a current resident list with photos and 97 (96.0%) wanted to see the intern year schedule online. Eighty-five percent agreed that salary and benefits information would be valuable on residency websites. Women expressed significantly more interest in salary ( P = .034), benefits ( P = .026), and parking information ( P = .048). Conclusion: Our study provides insight on key items to include on residency program websites. Websites that contain information that applicants want to use can be helpful for application decisions in the future.

An Evaluation of Otolaryngology Residency Program Websites

“…The criteria evaluated in this study were determined based on a survey study conducted by DiNardo et al that surveyed 101 fourth-year medical students applying to otolaryngology, re-applicants applying to otolaryngology, and current first-year otolaryngology residents [7]. A total of 38 criteria were listed and participants were asked to mark the components they hoped to see on otolaryngology residency websites.…”

“…Ultimately, they found that the top 10 components were sought by at least 80% of participants. These included the current resident list with photos, intern year schedule, call schedule/requirements, rotation schedule, comprehensive faculty list, benefits information, research requirements, salary information, research selection criteria, program contact email, and specific extra courses for residents [7]. Frequencies of each component in the present study are indicated by an asterisk in Table 2 [10,12].…”

“…Links that were not directly on the program website or able to be found via the search engine were not accessed. These 47 criteria were determined based on the results of a prior study conducted by DiNardo et al [7].…”

In Response to Does Medical School Rank Impact Matching into Otolaryngology?

“…Any information about a medical school that is easily accessible may influence selection committees. 4,5 Future research would be useful to ascertain how academic faculty perceive the US News & World Report medical school ranking lists and the implications of these perceptions.We hope that program directors and selection committees in Otolaryngology will consider their biases and think about what "holistic review" means when they make these important decisions about applicants.…”

“…Any information about a medical school that is easily accessible may influence selection committees. 4,5 Future research would be useful to ascertain how academic faculty perceive the US News & World Report medical school ranking lists and the implications of these perceptions.…”