Sarac Benjamin A, Jackson Kianna, Schwartz Rachel, Gosman Amanda A, Lin Samuel J, Janis Jeffrey E
From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.
Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2024 Mar 28;12(3):e5703. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000005703. eCollection 2024 Mar.
The Plastic Surgery Central Application (PSCA), designed to provide an equitable and streamlined application for both applicants and programs, was first designed in 2019, piloted in the 2020-21 application cycle, and is now in its fourth cycle in 2023-24. It has included preference signaling since the 2022-23 cycle, a feature in which applicants can send five "signals" to programs to express interest. We surveyed both program directors (PDs) and applicants following the 2023 match on their perceptions of PSCA versus Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).
Surveys were deployed to applicants from three integrated plastic surgery programs during the 2022-23 cycle and all PDs. Respondents were asked basic demographic information, which application system they preferred: PSCA or ERAS, how well they were able to highlight/evaluate different areas of the application, and about their experiences specifically with preference signaling.
Forty-two (48%) PDs and 93 (29%) applicants responded. Most PDs (72%) and applicants (59%) preferred PSCA, with only 18% and 27% preferring ERAS. The remainder had no preference. Ninety-three percent of applicants reported that the cost savings of the PSCA were important. Most applicants (78%) and PDs (80%) were in favor or strongly in favor of the preference signaling program.
Most applicants and PDs prefer PSCA over ERAS. These data, in conjunction with the cost savings, suggest that the PSCA may be a better alternative for the integrated plastic surgery match. Future analyses of these application systems will help provide the best application for prospective residents.
整形外科学术项目集中申请系统（PSCA）旨在为申请者和项目提供公平且简化的申请流程，于2019年首次设计，在2020 - 2021申请周期进行试点，目前处于2023 - 2024年的第四个周期。自2022 - 2023周期起，该系统引入了偏好信号功能，申请者可向项目发送五个“信号”以表达兴趣。我们在2023年匹配结束后，对项目主任（PD）和申请者就他们对PSCA与电子住院医师申请服务系统（ERAS）的看法进行了调查。
在2022 - 2023周期，我们向来自三个综合性整形外科学术项目的申请者以及所有项目主任发放了调查问卷。受访者被问及基本人口统计学信息、他们更喜欢哪个申请系统：PSCA还是ERAS、他们在突出/评估申请的不同方面的能力如何，以及他们对偏好信号功能的具体体验。
42名（48%）项目主任和93名（29%）申请者回复了问卷。大多数项目主任（72%）和申请者（59%）更喜欢PSCA，只有18%的项目主任和27%的申请者更喜欢ERAS。其余人员没有偏好。93%的申请者表示PSCA节省成本很重要。大多数申请者（78%）和项目主任（80%）支持或强烈支持偏好信号功能项目。
大多数申请者和项目主任更喜欢PSCA而非ERAS。这些数据，再加上成本节省因素，表明PSCA可能是综合性整形外科学术项目匹配的更好选择。对这些申请系统的未来分析将有助于为未来的住院医师提供最佳申请方式。
