Attitudes towards and impact of letters of recommendation for anesthesiology residency applicants

Figures & data

Figure 1. Total number of responses identified by ACGME and AMA FREIDA databases

Figure 2. Number of respondents that answered individual questions

Table 1. Years of experience of respondents (PDs and APDs)

Years of Experience	%	N
0–5 years	43.55%	27
5–10 years	37.10%	23
10–20 years	14.52%	9
>20 years	4.84%	3
Total	100%	62

Table 2. Importance of LOR in granting interview and in making rank list

	Very important	Moderately important	Slightly important	Not at all important	Total
Influence of LOR on interviews	11.29% (n = 7)	41.94% (n = 26)	43.55% (n = 27)	3.23% (n = 2)	100% (n = 62)
Influence of LOR on rank list	9.84% (n = 6)	31.15% (n = 19)	44.26% (n = 27)	14.75% (n = 9)	100% (n = 61)

Table 3. Are there keywords you look for when reviewing LORs?

Answer	%	n
Yes	77.42%	48
No	22.58%	14
Total	100%	62

Table 4. Importance of the faculty rank and the specialty of the letter-writer

	Very important	Moderately important	Slightly important	Not at all important	Total
Influence of faculty rank of the letter-writer	6.00% (n = 3)	40.00% (n = 20)	36.00% (n = 18)	18.00% (n = 9)	100% (n = 50)
Influence of the specialty of the letter-writer	40.00% (n = 20)	44.00% (n = 22)	12.00% (n = 6)	4.00% (n = 2)	100% (n = 50)

Table 5. Are you generally satisfied with the caliber, format and content of current LORs?

Answer	%
Yes	44.90%	22
No	55.10%	27
Total	100%	49