Improving the online presence of residency programs to ameliorate COVID-19’s impact on residency applications

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created several challenges for residency programs and prospective interns alike during the upcoming application cycle, including the cancellation of away sub-internships and in-person interviews. Given prior research documenting that applicants’ application and ranking decisions are significantly influenced by residency webpages, a potential solution to the loss of in-person experiences during the pandemic is the expansion of residency programs’ online presence through their program websites, provision of virtual grand rounds and pseudo-away rotations, and enhancement of virtual interviews. This study seeks to summarize the existing literature on these areas and provide concrete suggestions for improving programs’ virtual presence.Methods: The authors summarize earlier literature querying the content of program websites across 14 medical specialties, which documented significant gaps in the content of interest to applicants.Results: Among 14 analyzed specialties, the majority of programs had a functional website (>90%), with the exception of interventional radiology (73.9%). However, significant gaps in content were documented, with the percentage of content variables contained on websites ranging from 33.3% to 70.5% (median = 47.0%, interquartile range = 37.8-52.6%). Program websites were also limited by underrepresentation of content most valued by applicants as well as potential areas of inaccurate or outdated information.Conclusions: There are several interventions programs can undertake to address existing gaps in online presence. During an application cycle facing unprecedented resource strain, bolstering the online presence of programs may facilitate an improved fit between programs and future residents.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• medical education
• residency application
• education technology
• residency websites
• social media
• residency interviews
• away rotations

Acknowledgments

This paper is dedicated to the memory of the late Jack H. Ruddell (1994-2020).

Declaration of funding

No funding was received to produce this article.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

The contents of the paper and the opinions expressed within are those of the authors, and it was the decision of the authors to submit the manuscript for publication.

Declaration of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Reviewer disclosure

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

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