Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Semin Ophthalmol. 2022 Jan 2;37(1):36-41. doi: 10.1080/08820538.2021.1906917. Epub 2021 Apr 7.
To evaluate the experiences and preferences of ophthalmology residency applicants and program directors (PDs), with emphasis on the effect of COVID-19 as well as recent changes on the application process.
Cross-sectional, online survey.
All applicants to the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute ophthalmology residency program, and all United States ophthalmology residency PDs, during the 2020-2021 application cycle.
An online survey was distributed to applicants and program directors of the 2020-2021 ophthalmology residency application cycle.Main Outcome Measures: Applicant demographics, application submissions, interview experiences, financial considerations, match results, and suggestions for improvement of the application process.
Responses were obtained from 205 applicants (34.9% response rate) and 37 PDs (30.3%). A successful match into an ophthalmology residency was achieved by 144 (83.7%) applicants. Applicants applied to (mean ± SD) 79.7 ± 22.8 ophthalmology residency programs, received 13.1 ± 8.9 invitations to interview, and attended 11.1 ± 5.8 interviews. Most applicants (N = 126; 71.2%) and PDs (N = 22; 78.6%) expressed a preference for in-person interviews over virtual interviews. If given a choice regarding the future direction for interviews, most applicants were unsure (N = 68; 38.4%) or would prefer to hold interviews virtually (N = 62; 35.0%); PDs felt that interviews should go back to being in-person (39.3%) or were unsure (28.6%). Most PDs (N = 21; 72.4%) reported an increased number of applications received by their respective programs this year compared to previous years. While applicants (N = 108; 61.0%) mostly felt that there should not be a cap on the number of applications, 19 (67.9%) PDs supported a limit on application numbers. Applicants spent an average (SD) of $2320.96 ($1172.86) on the application process this year, which is significantly less than 2018-2019 data.
The ophthalmology residency application process was especially complex during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although many applicants and PDs were glad that interviews were held virtually this year, they were less certain regarding future years. The virtual format led to a significantly lower financial burden for applicants and may lead some to prefer this format in the future; if a hybrid model is offered for virtual/in-person interviews, these two interview modes should be compared equally.
评估眼科学住院医师申请人和项目主管（PD）的经验和偏好，重点关注 COVID-19 及其对申请流程的近期变化的影响。
横断面，在线调查。
2020-2021 年申请周期中，巴斯科姆·帕尔默眼科研究所眼科住院医师培训计划的所有申请人和所有美国眼科住院医师 PD。
向 2020-2021 年眼科住院医师申请周期的申请人和项目主管分发在线调查。主要观察指标：申请人人口统计学特征、申请提交情况、面试经历、财务考虑因素、匹配结果以及对申请流程改进的建议。
收到 205 名申请人（34.9%的回复率）和 37 名 PD（30.3%）的回复。144 名（83.7%）申请人成功匹配到眼科住院医师培训。申请人平均申请（平均值±SD）79.7±22.8 个眼科住院医师培训项目，收到 13.1±8.9 次面试邀请，并参加了 11.1±5.8 次面试。大多数申请人（N=126；71.2%）和 PD（N=22；78.6%）表示他们更喜欢面对面的面试而不是虚拟面试。如果可以选择未来面试的方向，大多数申请人不确定（N=68；38.4%）或希望进行虚拟面试（N=62；35.0%）；PD 认为面试应该恢复面对面（39.3%）或不确定（28.6%）。大多数 PD（N=21；72.4%）报告说，与前几年相比，他们所在项目今年收到的申请数量有所增加。尽管大多数申请人（N=108；61.0%）认为申请数量不应有限制，但 19 名 PD（67.9%）支持限制申请数量。今年，申请人平均（SD）在申请过程中花费 2320.96 美元（1172.86 美元），明显低于 2018-2019 年的数据。
在 COVID-19 大流行期间，眼科学住院医师培训申请流程特别复杂。尽管今年许多申请人和 PD 很高兴能够进行虚拟面试，但他们对未来几年的情况不太确定。虚拟模式使申请人的财务负担明显减轻，这可能导致一些人将来更喜欢这种模式；如果提供虚拟/面对面混合面试，应平等比较这两种面试模式。
