Cincinnati Eye Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
JAMA Ophthalmol. 2018 Jun 1;136(6):642-647. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2018.1107.
Communication between applicants, mentors, and training programs is common before the residency and fellowship match. Few studies have examined the association of prematch communication on final match outcomes.
To report various characteristics of the vitreoretinal surgery fellowship match and to examine the association of mentor-to-program communication and applicant disclosure of their number 1 ranking with the probability of matching number 1.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this cross-sectional study of the 2016 and 2017 vitreoretinal surgery fellowship matches, an online survey examined (1) number of applications submitted, (2) number of programs ranked, (3) rank order of final match, (4) total application and interview-related costs, (5) mentor-to-program contact, (6) applicant disclosure of number 1 ranking, and (7) mentor disclosure of number 1 ranking. A link to an anonymous online survey was sent to 198 matched fellows (105 fellows from the 2016 match and 93 from the 2017 match).
Survey responses regarding the vitreoretinal surgery fellowship application process.
The survey was sent to 198 matched fellowship applicants, and 152 (77%) completed the survey. Of the 105 matched applicants in 2016, 21 (20%) were women. Of the 93 matched applicants in 2017, 24 (26%) were women. Matched applicants applied to a mean (SD) of 34 (17) programs (range, 1-85) and ranked a mean (SD) of 12 (4) programs (range, 1-27). Of 152 applicants, 66 (43%) matched at their number 1 ranked program, 23 (15%) matched number 2, and 21 (14%) matched number 3. The mean (SD) total cost was $5500 ($2776) (range, $500-$13 500). Two-sided χ2 testing found no association (odds ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.34-1.4; P = .33) between mentor-to-program contact and the probability of applicants matching at their number 1 ranked program. Matched applicants who revealed their number 1 ranking either personally or via a mentor matched at a program ranked lower (more desirable) on their rank list (mean match ranking, 2.8) compared with those who did not reveal their number 1 ranking (mean match ranking, 4.2; 95% CI, 0.2-2.5; P = .01). Applicant disclosure of their intention to rank a program number 1, either personally or via a mentor, was associated with matching number 1 (odds ratio, 2.6; range, 1.1-6.0; P = .03).
Vitreoretinal fellowship applicants who disclosed their number 1 ranking, either personally or via a mentor, were associated with improved match outcomes compared with their cohorts who did not make such disclosures.
在住院医师和专科医师匹配之前，申请人、导师和培训项目之间进行沟通是很常见的。很少有研究探讨预先沟通对最终匹配结果的影响。
报告玻璃体视网膜外科学专科医师培训匹配的各种特征，并研究导师与项目的沟通以及申请人透露其排名第一的意愿与排名第一的匹配概率之间的关系。
设计、设置和参与者：在这项对 2016 年和 2017 年玻璃体视网膜外科学专科医师培训匹配的横断面研究中，一项在线调查研究了（1）提交的申请数量，（2）排名的项目数量，（3）最终匹配的排名顺序，（4）总申请和面试相关费用，（5）导师与项目的联系，（6）申请人透露排名第一的意愿，以及（7）导师透露排名第一的意愿。向 198 名匹配的研究员（2016 年匹配的 105 名研究员和 2017 年匹配的 93 名研究员）发送了一个匿名在线调查的链接。
玻璃体视网膜外科学专科医师培训申请过程的调查答复。
该调查发给了 198 名匹配的研究员，有 152 名（77%）完成了调查。2016 年的 105 名匹配申请人中，有 21 名（20%）是女性。2017 年的 93 名匹配申请人中，有 24 名（26%）是女性。匹配的申请人平均（SD）申请了 34（17）个项目（范围，1-85），平均（SD）排名 12（4）个项目（范围，1-27）。在 152 名申请人中，有 66 名（43%）按排名第一的项目匹配，23 名（15%）匹配排名第二，21 名（14%）匹配排名第三。平均（SD）总成本为 5500 美元（2776 美元）（范围，500-13500 美元）。双侧 χ2 检验发现导师与项目的联系与申请人按排名第一的项目匹配的概率之间没有关联（比值比，0.70；95%置信区间，0.34-1.4；P=0.33）。透露自己排名第一的意愿的匹配申请人无论是通过导师透露还是亲自透露，都与他们在排名列表上排名较低（更理想）的项目相匹配（平均匹配排名，2.8），而那些没有透露自己排名第一的意愿的申请人（平均匹配排名，4.2；95%置信区间，0.2-2.5；P=0.01）。申请人无论是通过导师还是亲自透露自己打算将一个项目排名第一，与排名第一的匹配相关（比值比，2.6；范围，1.1-6.0；P=0.03）。
与那些没有透露排名第一意愿的队列相比，透露排名第一意愿的玻璃体视网膜外科学专科医师培训申请人与改善的匹配结果相关。
