Factors that influence residency applicants in the selection of a specific program.

The relative importance of factors that influenced residency applicants in the selection of a specific program was determined through a national survey. A four-page questionnaire was developed through a series of focus groups with current and former pharmacy residents. A total of 370 questionnaires were mailed to the preceptors of all residencies participating in the 1987 ASHP Resident Matching Program; the preceptors were instructed to forward the questionnaires to all first-year residents in their programs. Respondents were asked to provide demographic information and to rate (using a seven-point Likert scale) the importance of 19 factors that might have influenced their choice of residency program. The respondents also were asked to list which 4 of the 19 factors had been most important to them in their choice. Most of the 243 respondents had entered the residency programs with little or no postgraduate pharmacy experience. The average residency candidate applied to 2.8 programs; approximately half of the respondents had accepted a residency position in the state in which they currently lived. The reputation of the residency program as a good learning program was rated most important by all groups. ASHP accreditation was rated slightly higher by residents in general programs, whereas the type of medical services provided by the hospital and the university teaching affiliation were rated slightly higher by respondents in clinical and specialty programs. Factors with low importance ratings included desirable climate and total number of residency hours worked. Residency preceptors can use the results of this study to focus their marketing and recruiting strategies.