Have primary care sports medicine fellowships influenced family medicine match rates?

Abstract

Introduction: The Future of Family Medicine Project Final Report comments on the declining interest of United States medical graduates (USMGs) in family medicine (FM). Accredited primary care sports medicine (PCSM) fellowships have proliferated since 1997. The objectives of this study are to determine whether FM residencies with PCSM fellowships are more successful filling their National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) quota of available FM positions and/or are more successful matching USMGs. Methods: A retrospective cohort study compared NRMP data for all FM residencies participating in the NRMP main match process during the years 1997 through 2006. FM residencies were examined year by year for the effect of having an accredited PCSM fellowship. Results: The annual percentages of total FM spots filled and whether a FM residency completely filled were not statistically different between comparison groups. The annual percentages of USMGs matched were significantly higher (p value = 0.000, F = 19.126) at FM residencies with PCSM fellowships. Discussion: FM residencies with PCSM fellowships have not been more successful overall in filling their quota of available FM positions via the NRMP main match; however, annually they have matched a higher proportion of USMGs. Results of this study are relevant for implementing FFM Task Force 4 recommendations.