Wilson Jacob M, Schwartz Andrew M, Farley Kevin X, Erens Greg A
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Arthroplast Today. 2021 Feb 26;8:278-282.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.artd.2021.01.008. eCollection 2021 Apr.
The number of applicants to adult reconstruction fellowships (ARFs) has increased significantly in recent years, making the application process increasingly competitive. With this, applicants are applying to and interviewing at more programs which has inherent cost and time implications. The purpose of this study was to assess these implications as well as investigate applicant attitudes toward proposed changes.
This is a cross-sectional survey study of 2019 and 2020 ARF applicants (n = 278) to a single institution. A 10-question survey was distributed to applicants regarding the application and interview process. This survey focused on application and interview volumes, financial and temporal commitments, as well as perceptions regarding potential application process changes. Descriptive statistics and chi-squared analysis were then performed.
Of the 110 (40%) respondents, 87% spent >$3000 and 43% spent >$5000 during the application process. Most respondents applied to ≥26 programs (84%) and both received and attended ≥11 interviews (87% and 74.5%, respectively). Applicants missed significant training time for interviews (99% missed at least 1 week, 62% two weeks, and 15% three weeks). Attending more interviews ( = .001) and multiple visits to the same city ( = .049) were associated with spending >$5000. Most applicants (72%) felt change to the process would be beneficial.
Applicants to ARF are applying to and interviewing at many programs resulting in significant time away from training and financial investment. Most applicants feel that a change to the system would be beneficial, although no consensus on the best solution was delineated. These data should be considered during the continued evaluation of the match process.
近年来，成人重建专科住院医师培训项目（ARF）的申请人数量显著增加，使得申请过程的竞争日益激烈。随之而来的是，申请人向更多项目提出申请并参加面试，这带来了内在的成本和时间问题。本研究的目的是评估这些影响，并调查申请人对提议变革的态度。
这是一项对一所机构的2019年和2020年ARF申请人（n = 278）进行的横断面调查研究。向申请人发放了一份包含10个问题的调查问卷，内容涉及申请和面试过程。该调查聚焦于申请和面试数量、财务和时间投入，以及对潜在申请流程变化的看法。然后进行描述性统计和卡方分析。
在110名（40%）受访者中，87%在申请过程中花费超过3000美元，43%花费超过5000美元。大多数受访者申请了≥26个项目（84%），并且收到并参加了≥11次面试（分别为87%和74.5%）。申请人因面试错过了大量培训时间（99%至少错过1周，62%错过两周，15%错过三周）。参加更多面试（P = .001）和多次前往同一城市（P = .049）与花费超过5000美元相关。大多数申请人（72%）认为对流程进行改变会有益处。
ARF的申请人向多个项目提出申请并参加面试，导致大量时间远离培训以及财务投入。大多数申请人认为对系统进行改变会有益处，尽管对于最佳解决方案尚未达成共识。在对匹配过程的持续评估中应考虑这些数据。
