Wilson Lynn D, Haffty Bruce G
Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2003 Nov 15;57(4):1033-7. doi: 10.1016/s0360-3016(03)00734-x.
Radiation oncology continues to evolve as a specialty. In the early 1990s, issues of manpower oversupply, resource allocation, development of academic radiation oncology, and residency training curricula were fervently considered and evaluated. Much of this effort continues. This communication endeavors to examine the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) results as they pertain to radiation oncology to identify and document applicant trends over the last decade.
The NRMP database tables for inclusive dates 1993-2003 were evaluated. The database figures were supplied directly from the executive staff at the AAMC/NRMP. Data were reviewed for radiation oncology, and the following variables were evaluated for the study period (1993-2003): Training program participation, positions offered, applicant totals, proportion of US senior applicants, US seniors as a percentage of those who successfully matched, ratio of applicants to positions, and percentage of training program positions filled. Trends over the study period were analyzed. Data were also analyzed for all specialties collectively as a comparison group.
The number of training programs has remained relatively stable between 1993 and 2003. In 2003, each radiation oncology program in the NRMP on average accepted two new candidates. The number of positions offered has fluctuated over time. There appeared to be a downward trend until 2003, during which 107 positions were offered. The number of applicants continues to rise with totals of 209 and 214 in 2003 and 2001, respectively. Percentage of US senior applicants compared with the total pool has remained relatively stable, but raw numbers are rising. The number of US seniors as a percentage of those who successfully matched escalated during 2001 compared with previous years. This value has been consistent over the past 3 years, at a level of approximately 94%. The ratio of applicants to positions, which is a broad indicator of level of competition for entrance, began to rise significantly in 2000 to a level of 1.9. It peaked at 2.6 in 2001, and the ratio for 2003 was approximately 2.0. For the first time, all positions offered were filled (100%) through the NRMP match process in 2003. Such positive trends have not been realized to the same degree for all specialties analyzed as a cohort.
Acceptance into radiation oncology training programs through the NRMP has become very competitive. The explanation for this trend is likely complex with many variables. These data may be helpful in training program development and will certainly be of service to advisors of medical students seeking entrance into the field in the near future.
放射肿瘤学作为一个专业领域持续发展。在20世纪90年代早期，人力供应过剩、资源分配、学术放射肿瘤学的发展以及住院医师培训课程等问题受到了热烈的讨论和评估。其中许多工作仍在继续。本交流旨在研究与放射肿瘤学相关的国家住院医师匹配计划（NRMP）结果，以确定并记录过去十年的申请人趋势。
评估了NRMP数据库中1993 - 2003年的相关数据表。数据库数据由美国医学院协会/国家住院医师匹配计划的行政人员直接提供。对放射肿瘤学的数据进行了审查，并对研究期间（1993 - 2003年）的以下变量进行了评估：培训项目参与情况、提供的职位、申请人总数、美国高年级申请人的比例、成功匹配者中美国高年级学生的百分比、申请人与职位的比例以及培训项目职位的填补百分比。分析了研究期间的趋势。还将所有专业的数据作为一个比较组进行了分析。
1993年至2003年期间，培训项目的数量相对保持稳定。2003年，NRMP中的每个放射肿瘤学项目平均接收两名新学员。提供的职位数量随时间有所波动。直到2003年似乎呈下降趋势，当年提供了107个职位。申请人数量持续上升，2003年和2001年的总数分别为209人和214人。美国高年级申请人占总申请人的比例相对保持稳定，但实际人数在增加。与前几年相比，2001年成功匹配者中美国高年级学生的比例有所上升。在过去3年中，这一比例一直保持在约94%的水平。申请人与职位的比例是入学竞争程度的一个广泛指标，2000年开始显著上升至1.9。2001年达到峰值2.6，2003年的比例约为2.0。2003年，通过NRMP匹配程序，所有提供的职位首次全部被填补（100%）。作为一个群体进行分析时，并非所有专业都在相同程度上实现了这样的积极趋势。
通过NRMP进入放射肿瘤学培训项目的竞争变得非常激烈。这种趋势的原因可能很复杂，涉及许多变量。这些数据可能有助于培训项目的发展，并且肯定会对近期寻求进入该领域的医学生的指导教师有所帮助。
