Do Websites Provide What Applicants Need? Plastic Surgery Residency Program Websites Versus Applicant Self-reported Needs

Overview

Journal Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open

Specialty General Surgery

Date 2018 Dec 12

PMID 30534485

Citations 24

Authors

Vivi W Chen

Don Hoang

Warren Garner

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Plastic surgery residency program websites (PSRWs) remain a major resource for applicants to one of the most competitive specialties in medicine, yet it is unclear how the website content aligns with information applicants need.

Objective: To evaluate PSRWs and whether they are meeting applicant needs.

Methods: An anonymous online survey of 2016 plastic and reconstructive surgery applicants evaluated the use of PSRWs and information desired. Two researchers then independently analyzed all 93 PSRWs in the United States to determine whether the websites met the needs of applicants based on a quantitative scoring system.

Results: Out of 369 total applicants to plastic surgery, the survey was sent to the 189 applicants to University of Southern California, and 87 responded (46% response rate). Ninety-eight percentage of respondents used websites during the application process. For 31%, websites served as the only source of information. Websites were moderately (60%) and only slightly useful (32%). For 22% and 34%, the quality of a website influenced their decision to apply or interview, respectively. Out of the 22 common components between the applicant survey and scoring assessment of websites, there was a significant difference in 17 components (77%) between those rated as "important" by applicants and availability of the corresponding component on websites ( < 0.05). Average (SD) score among websites was 18.7 (5.3) out of 49 maximum points (36.9%). Over 30% of websites displayed broken links or missing or outdated information. Only 19.6% displayed a link to provide website feedback.

Conclusions: PSRWs commonly include pertinent information that is useful; however, most are lacking components valued by applicants. These findings can help guide the design, content, and improvement of PSRWs to be quality resources for applicants.

Citing Articles

Showcasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in neurological surgery: a comparative analysis of neurological surgery residency program websites in the United States.

Price A, Chow W, Bauman M, Daniels D Neurosurg Rev. 2024; 47(1):906.

PMID: 39707067 DOI: 10.1007/s10143-024-03148-8.

A Regional Analysis of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives in Plastic Surgery Residency Programs.

Choi D, Luu K, Brite G, Plonkowski A, Daubs M, Krajewski A Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2024; 12(11):e6283.

PMID: 39600335 PMC: 11596638. DOI: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000006283.

Analyzing diversity, equity, and inclusion content on dermatology fellowship program websites.

Bohler F, Garden A, Taranikanti V Med Educ Online. 2024; 29(1):2347762.

PMID: 38691015 PMC: 11064734. DOI: 10.1080/10872981.2024.2347762.

Examination of residency program websites for the use of gendered language and imagery.

Read C, Tracz J, Mhaimeed N, Mainville R, Elzie C BMC Med Educ. 2023; 23(1):697.

PMID: 37752546 PMC: 10523617. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-023-04677-4.

Analyzing the Content Found on Fellowship Websites for Adult Congenital Heart Disease.

Almasri W, Haque M, Shaik M, Mannan A, Rehman S, Husain M Cureus. 2023; 15(7):e42682.

PMID: 37649934 PMC: 10464652. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42682.

References

Tadisina K, Gharb B, Orra S, Kwiecien G, Bernard S, Zins J . Reply: Applying to Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Programs: Trends in the Past 5 Years of the Match. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016; 139(1):330e-331e. DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000002882. View

Embi P, Desai S, Cooney T . Use and utility of Web-based residency program information: a survey of residency applicants. J Med Internet Res. 2003; 5(3):e22. PMC: 1550569. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.5.3.e22. View

Chu L, Chan B . Evolution of web site design: implications for medical education on the Internet. Comput Biol Med. 1998; 28(5):459-72. DOI: 10.1016/s0010-4825(98)00027-4. View

McLean R, Richards B, Wardman J . The effect of Web 2.0 on the future of medical practice and education: Darwikinian evolution or folksonomic revolution?. Med J Aust. 2007; 187(3):174-7. DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb01180.x. View

Rabinowitz C, Prabhakar H, Amorosa J . An Internet-based approach to advising radiology residency applicants. Acad Radiol. 2002; 9(5):551-6. DOI: 10.1016/s1076-6332(03)80332-x. View

Zink B, Hammoud M, Middleton E, Moroney D, Schigelone A . A comprehensive medical student career development program improves medical student satisfaction with career planning. Teach Learn Med. 2007; 19(1):55-60. DOI: 10.1080/10401330709336624. View

Chu L, Young C, Zamora A, Lowe D, Hoang D, Pearl R . Self-reported information needs of anesthesia residency applicants and analysis of applicant-related web sites resources at 131 United States training programs. Anesth Analg. 2010; 112(2):430-9. DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e3182027a94. View

Ahmad F, White A, Hiller K, Amini R, Jeffe D . An assessment of residents' and fellows' personal finance literacy: an unmet medical education need. Int J Med Educ. 2017; 8:192-204. PMC: 5457786. DOI: 10.5116/ijme.5918.ad11. View

Kamel Boulos M, Maramba I, Wheeler S . Wikis, blogs and podcasts: a new generation of Web-based tools for virtual collaborative clinical practice and education. BMC Med Educ. 2006; 6:41. PMC: 1564136. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6920-6-41. View

10.

Silvestre J, Tomlinson-Hansen S, Fosnot J, Taylor J . Plastic surgery residency websites: a critical analysis of accessibility and content. Ann Plast Surg. 2014; 72(3):265-9. DOI: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000000125. View

11.

Gaeta T, Birkhahn R, Lamont D, Banga N, Bove J . Aspects of residency programs' web sites important to student applicants. Acad Emerg Med. 2005; 12(1):89-92. DOI: 10.1197/j.aem.2004.08.047. View

12.

Susarla S, Swanson E, Slezak S, Lifchez S, Redett R . The Perception and Costs of the Interview Process for Plastic Surgery Residency Programs: Can the Process Be Streamlined?. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016; 139(1):302e-309e. DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000002912. View

13.

Mahler S, Wagner M, Church A, Sokolosky M, Cline D . Importance of residency program web sites to emergency medicine applicants. J Emerg Med. 2008; 36(1):83-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.10.055. View

14.

Hashmi A, Policherla R, Campbell H, Khan F, Schumaier A, Al-Mufarrej F . How Informative are the Plastic Surgery Residency Websites to Prospective Applicants?. J Surg Educ. 2016; 74(1):74-78. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2016.08.002. View

15.

Kamel Boulos M, Wheeler S . The emerging Web 2.0 social software: an enabling suite of sociable technologies in health and health care education. Health Info Libr J. 2007; 24(1):2-23. DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-1842.2007.00701.x. View

16.

Kutikov A, Morgan T, Resnick M . The impact of residency match information disseminated by a third-party website. J Surg Educ. 2009; 66(4):212-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2009.03.034. View

17.

Chu L, Zamora A, Young C, Kurup V, Macario A . The role of social networking applications in the medical academic environment. Int Anesthesiol Clin. 2010; 48(3):61-82. DOI: 10.1097/AIA.0b013e3181e6e7d8. View