Exploring the Relationship of Race and Ethnicity to Other Characteristics Within Residency Applicants: An Analysis of RF-PTCAS Data From 2013 to 2018

Abstract

Introduction. A centralized application process for applicants to physical therapy residency and fellowship education programs has been available through an online portal known as Residency Fellowship-Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (RF-PTCAS) since 2013. None of these data have been described or analyzed to date beyond an initial internal report of applicant and application numbers. The purpose of this study was to analyze and describe applicants to physical therapist (PT) residency programs from 2013 to 2018, with a specific focus on race and ethnicity. Demographic and admissions research related to PT residency education is limited, and we are unaware of any existing data on residency applicants based on racial and ethnic identity. At present, we can look to existing data from past and current Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students to inform expected racial or ethnic composition of current and future residents. Both the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education and PTCAS provide population demographics of PT students. Methods. A data set from RF-PTCAS was obtained for analysis of applicant data for the application cycles from 2013–2014 to 2017–2018. Applicants to residency programs through RF-PTCAS between 2013 and 2018 were included in this analysis (n = 4,373). Results. This growing applicant pool has remained relatively similar in applicant demographics from year to year over this 5-year period of analysis. The data show that applicants to residency are best characterized as: 26–30 years of age, female, White, graduated with their DPT degree within the same or the previous year of applying to residency, and living in a state in the Southern, Mid-West or Pacific-Coastal regions. Discussion. Overall, the race/ethnicity of White to non-White applicants has remained constant with little change in the growth of non-White applicants. Thus, despite the “call to action” among leaders in our profession, and an increase in other related health professions, we have had little change across 5 years of admissions data. Conclusion. Thus, despite the “call to action” among leaders in our profession, and an increase in other related health professions, we have had little change across 5 years of admissions data to residency programs.