Background: Despite the timely and costly process of recruiting a class of incoming residents, minimal research has been done to determine if optimization can alleviate some of the pressures. The NRMP conducted a survey of all 2015 Main Residency Match applicants about the influencing factors of their rank choices and the relative importance of each of those factors. On a scale of 1 to 5, with five being the most important, the survey determined that the mean importance rating of students ranking a particular program based on geographical location, morale, training, and career paths is 4.5, 4.6, 4.6, and 4.4, respectively. If assuming agreeable program perceptions are also linked to higher rank order then determining which applicants perceive them highly in these categories could influence who to interview and rank during the recruitment process.
Purpose: To reveal the perceptions, the changes in perceptions, and the demographic correlation of perceptions of the Harbor-UCLA Anesthesia residency program by applicants.
Methods: Candidates to the Harbor-UCLA Anesthesia residency program completed a hand-written exit interview survey during the 2015-2016 year consisting of: Demographics; Perceptions; Preferences; and Rating of reception/interview day. During the 2016-2017 application cycle, candidates were emailed a link to an online survey consisting of demographics and program perceptions prior to their interview, and a second online survey consisting of follow up perception questions and rating of the reception and interview day. The online surveys were completely anonymous and voluntary. Mean perception ratings were determined for different sub-groups utilizing the demographics data from each of the surveys.
Results: Perceptions of the Harbor-UCLA Anesthesia program have increased from the 2015 to the 2016 year, especially in the programs reputation of graduates getting good jobs and fellowships where the mean perception score improved from 4.2 to 4.66. In addition, perceptions of the program were improved after the interview. When comparing the NRMP’s data of the mean importance scores in geographical location, morale, training, and career paths to the mean perception score of Harbor-UCLA, perception scores exceeded importance scores in every category except training. In 2015, the demographic group with the highest perceptions of Harbor-UCLA were southern California residents who attended medical school outside of California or on the Western Coast. In 2016, the demographic group with the highest perceptions of Harbor-UCLA were Outside residents who attended medical school outside of California.
Conclusions: Based on the data, the perceptions of the Harbor-UCLA Anesthesia residency program are improving among applicants, and the interview day has had a positive influence. The demographical correlation of sub-groups to perceptions was not consistent between the 2015 and 2016 cohort. Therefore, it is not recommended to make any assumptions about a candidate’s perceptions of the program based on their demographics. Because emotions like “fit” influence the decision to rank programs, it may be difficult to use algorithms to aid in the application process. More research is needed to optimize the recruitment process.
References:
1. National Resident Matching Program.Results of the 2015 NRMP Applicant Survey: by Preferred Specialty and Applicant Type.http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content... March 14, 2017.
