Abstract No. 295 - Match day: online search trends reflect real-time interest in interventional radiology training

Abstract

Purpose Internet search trends have been shown to parallel consumer interest in products and services in many industries. The purpose of this study is to characterize relationships between the growth in the interventional radiology (IR) applicant pool and related internet search queries. Materials and Methods From July 1, 2006 to July 1, 2011, the Google Trends tool was used to analyze search engine query data for “interventional radiology fellowship” and related terms to identify individuals seeking information regarding fellowship training. These terms returned a search volume index (SVI) representing the search frequency relative to the total search volume during the study interval and geographic region for the United States during each academic year. Results were compared with National Residency Match Panel Specialties Matching Services (NRMP-SMS) match data using a Pearson correlation analysis. Regression analysis and Kruskal-Wallis one way analysis of variance was employed to characterize annual search trends and peak search activity. Results Normalized mean annual search traffic for IR fellowship increased by 209% over the 60 month study period. There was an annual mean SVI increase of 35% (range 11%-68%; SD 28%), with a statistically significant linear increase in yearly SVI over time (R2=0.96, p= 0.0035). There was a similar increase in total IR fellowship applicants (146% increase) over the study time interval (R2=0.98, p= 0.0216). Annual SVI was highly predictive of the total number of applicants for that match year (R2=0.96, p=0.0085). Additionally, there were statistically significant differences in SVI by month (Kruskal-Wallis p= 0.004) with greatest increase in mean SVI observed in Dec (148% increase; range 74%-273%; SD 112%) and Jan (54% increase; range 18%-213%; SD 79%). Conclusion Significant increases in internet search traffic related to IR fellowship strongly correlates with increases in number of fellowship applicants. Reflected in this trend is an annual peak in search traffic in the winter months corresponding to the application cycle. Internet search queries mirror actual trends in trainee professional interests and may provide useful information to attract potential candidates.