Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program Websites: A Five-Year Update and the Rise of Social Media.

Colin K Cantrell,Haley Smith,Lucas T Buchler,Reeti K Gulati,Dru Z Curtis,Bennet A Butler,Erik Gerlach,Mark A Plantz

doi:10.7759/cureus.22680

Abstract

Objective The importance of online information in the form of residency program websites has been well documented. With the rise of popularity of social media, another potential vital source of online information distribution exists. We aimed to examine the changes in orthopaedic surgery residency program websites and determine the use of social media by these programs.MethodsA list of orthopaedic residency programs was obtained. Websites were then assessed for presence of numerous criteria. The presence of a social media account on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook platforms was then determined.ResultsOne hundred ninety-five websites out of 197 programs were identified. The most commonly present criterion was resident rotation schedule with 187 (96%) listings. Meanwhile, information on virtual sessions for prospective applicants was the least present at 26 (13%). Out of the 33 criteria assessed, websites contained an average of 20.4 criteria. Approximately half of the programs were noted to have a social media presence.ConclusionWebsite utilization and accessibility have improved over time as the importance of online information has continued to grow in the orthopaedic surgery residency application process. In order to increase their online presence, numerous programs have recently created or enhanced the profiles on social media platforms which may reach more users than websites alone.

Highlights

Online information in the form of websites has been utilized by residency programs as a primary source of information to prospective applicants for more than two decades [1-2]
We demonstrated that almost every identified program contained a functional website that was accessible through a Google search and, to a lesser extent, the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA) databases
Website utilization and accessibility has continued to increase and improve over time as online information has grown in its importance in the orthopaedic surgery residency application process

Summary

Introduction

Online information in the form of websites has been utilized by residency programs as a primary source of information to prospective applicants for more than two decades [1-2]. Rozental et al performed the first assessment of orthopaedic surgery residency programs' utilization of websites [8]. This early examination was followed more than a decade later by two separate studies. Oladeji et al and Davidson et al updated and elaborated on Rozental et al.’s work with examination of new criteria deemed important to applicants in other previously published studies [9-10]. These three studies demonstrated the early evolution of website utility in orthopaedic surgery residency programs while highlighting important criteria to applicants for program directors and their website designers to consider

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion