An Evaluation of the Availability and Accessibility of Online Content of Integrated Vascular Surgery, Interventional Radiology, and Thoracic Surgery Training Program Websites for Residency Applicants

Abstract

Residency websites are an important recruitment resource, introducing applicants to programs across the country and allowing for comparison. Recruitment is highly competitive between vascular surgery (VS), CT, and interventional radiology (IR) with the ratio of applicants to positions being highest in CT, then IR, and last VS, as reported by the Electronic Residency Application Service. Thus, we sought to evaluate the accessibility and availability of online content for those integrated residency programs. A list of accredited VS, IR, and CT residencies was obtained from Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Program websites were evaluated by independent reviewers for content items pertaining to program recruitment and education (scored absent or present). Statistical analysis was performed in R. Of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited programs, 74 (87%) of 85 IR, 56 (92%) of 61 VS, and 27 (100%) of 27 CT had functional websites. IR websites contained 19.4 ± 9.54 (mean ± SD) content items (interquartile range [IQR], 14.8-25.1), VS websites contained 24.2 ± 10.7 (mean ± SD) content items (IQR, 19-31.5), and CT websites contained 26.6 ± 7.15 (mean ± SD) content items (IQR, 21.8-31.5). CT and VS websites contained significantly more content items than IR websites (P = .0004 and P = .0026, respectively). Two content items highly influential to applicant program decision are operative experience and faculty mentorship, reported at 50% and 14.9% for IR, 32.1% and 10.7% for VS, and 18.5% and 11.1% for CT. Key deficits were work hours, debt management, and curriculum for IR; resident profiles, sample contract, and departmental research interests for VS; and operative experience, PD contact, and message for CT. IR deficits in work hours and CT deficits in operative experience both represent information highly valued by applicants. All had deficits in evaluation criteria and faculty mentorship. Detailed information on availability of specific content items can be seen in the Table. This study has uncovered key differences in availability of online content for residencies recruiting from the same pool of applicants. CT has the most information, then VS, with IR reporting the least content. To attract valuable candidates, programs should aim to increase the availability of online content for potential applicants.TableAvailability of content on US integrated interventional radiology (IR), integrated vascular surgery (VS), and integrated thoracic surgery training program websitesIR, No. (%) of programs (n = 74)VS, No. (%) of programs (n = 56)Thoracic surgery, No. (%) of programs (n = 27)Program recruitment Program description69 (93.2)56 (100.0)26 (96.3) Faculty listing73 (98.6)53 (94.6)27 (100.0) Faculty education (training history)68 (91.9)52 (92.9)25 (92.6) Admin/coordinator contact63 (85.1)53 (94.6)22 (81.5) Application requirements50 (67.6)42 (75.0)22 (81.5) ERAS link47 (63.5)35 (62.5)16 (59.3) Benefits51 (68.9)39 (69.6)19 (70.4) No. of incoming positions available45 (60.8)44 (78.6)20 (74.1) Salary48 (64.9)34 (60.7)17 (63.0) Current residents47 (63.5)40 (71.4)20 (74.1) Faculty publications40 (54.1)24 (42.9)19 (70.4) Wellbeing strategies37 (50.0)26 (46.4)17 (63.0) Interview dates29 (39.2)32 (57.1)13 (48.1) Alumni listing17 (23.0)20 (35.7)7 (25.9) Alumni career placement17 (23.0)15 (26.8)6 (22.2) Selection process13 (17.6)4 (7.1)2 (7.4) Debt management8 (10.8)22 (39.3)11 (40.7) Work hours6 (8.1)12 (21.4)12 (44.4)Program education Rotation schedule45 (60.8)47 (83.9)19 (70.4) Research interests (department)49 (66.2)22 (39.3)16 (59.3) Didactic instruction42 (56.8)39 (69.6)17 (63.0) Research requirements39 (52.7)41 (73.2)19 (70.4) Operative experience37 (50.0)18 (32.1)5 (18.5) Journal club25 (33.8)34 (60.7)11 (40.7) Meetings attended23 (31.1)26 (46.4)11 (40.7) Elective rotation20 (27.0)25 (44.6)12 (44.4) Curriculum12 (16.2)21 (37.5)10 (37.0) National organization link8 (10.8)4 (7.1)7 (25.9) Evaluation criteria5 (6.8)9 (16.1)6 (22.2) Simulation training3 (4.1)19 (33.9)9 (33.3)ERAS, Electronic Residency Application Service. Open table in a new tab