Department of Urological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
J Surg Educ. 2013 Jul-Aug;70(4):537-43. doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2013.02.006. Epub 2013 Apr 10.
Urology is perceived as a competitive specialty choice. Declining undergraduate exposure and the preference for "lifestyle specialties" may jeopardize urology's popularity. Our objective was to assess trends in application and matching rates to urology compared with other surgical specialties.
We reviewed data collected by Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) and the Canadian Post-MD Education Registry since expansion in Canadian medical school enrollment began (2002-2011). The following were examined: applicant preference, number of positions, gender patterns, and match results. "Surgery" included general surgery, orthopedics, plastics, ENT, and urology.
From 2002 to 2011 CaRMS applicants increased from 1117 to 2528 (126%). The number of applicants selecting surgery first increased from 178 to 338(90%). The number of surgery positions increased from 138 to 275 (100%). Urology positions increased from 15 to 31 (113%). Applicants to urology increased only 40% (30-42). The proportion of all CARMs applicants selecting urology as their first choice decreased from 2.7% (30) to 1.7% (42). The ratio of first choice urology applicants to positions decreased from 2 to 1.35. The probability of matching urology as first choice increased from 50% to 76%. Female medical graduates increased from 51% to 58%. The female applicants selecting surgery first increased from 21% (49) to 41% (173). In contrast, females selecting urology first rose from 13% (4) to 17% (7).
Urology in Canada is becoming less competitive. Residency positions have doubled since 2002 whereas the number of applicants remains static. This trend was not reflected in other surgical specialities. Factors accounting for this may include poor undergraduate exposure, demand for specialties with controllable lifestyles, gender shifts in undergraduate medicine, and lack of role models. The need for undergraduate exposure to urology and vetting numbers of residency positions remains a matter of paramount importance.
泌尿科被认为是一个竞争激烈的专业选择。本科生接触机会减少和对“生活方式专业”的偏好可能危及泌尿科的受欢迎程度。我们的目的是评估与其他外科专业相比，申请和匹配率的趋势。
我们审查了自加拿大医学院招生扩大以来（2002-2011 年）加拿大住院医师匹配服务（CaRMS）和加拿大医学后教育注册处收集的数据。考察了申请人的偏好、职位数量、性别模式和匹配结果。“外科”包括普通外科、骨科、整形外科、耳鼻喉科和泌尿科。
2002 年至 2011 年，CaRMS 申请人从 1117 人增加到 2528 人（增加 126%）。选择外科专业的申请人人数从 178 人增加到 338 人（增加 90%）。外科职位数量从 138 个增加到 275 个（增加 100%）。泌尿科职位从 15 个增加到 31 个（增加 113%）。泌尿科的申请人仅增加了 40%（从 30 人增加到 42 人）。选择泌尿科作为第一选择的 CaRMS 申请人比例从 2.7%（30 人）下降到 1.7%（42 人）。选择泌尿科作为第一选择的申请人与职位的比例从 2 下降到 1.35。作为第一选择匹配泌尿科的概率从 50%增加到 76%。女医学毕业生比例从 51%增加到 58%。选择外科专业的女性申请人从 21%（49 人）增加到 41%（173 人）。相比之下，选择泌尿科作为第一选择的女性申请人从 13%（4 人）增加到 17%（7 人）。
加拿大的泌尿科竞争正在减弱。自 2002 年以来，住院医师职位增加了一倍，而申请人数量保持不变。这一趋势在其他外科专业中并没有反映出来。造成这种情况的因素可能包括本科生接触机会不佳、对生活方式可控的专业的需求、本科生医学性别转移以及缺乏榜样。本科生接触泌尿科和审查住院医师职位数量的需求仍然是一个至关重要的问题。
