Mahoney Mary T, Corrigan Kelsey L, Linkowski Lauren C, Abdelaal Moamen R, Munsell Mark F, Cruz Denise De La, Royal Angelika, Braunstein Steve E, Mix Michael D, Gunther Jillian R
Transitional Year Residency Program, Garnet Health, Middletown, New York.
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
Adv Radiat Oncol. 2024 Feb 16;9(6):101473. doi: 10.1016/j.adro.2024.101473. eCollection 2024 Jun.
Virtual radiation oncology (RO) residency interviews may impair applicant and program evaluation. Second look events (SLEs) exist; however, the frequency, nature, and implications are unknown. We surveyed applicants and program directors (PDs) to characterize the 2023 RO Match SLEs and assess perspectives.
An online, anonymous survey was distributed to 2023 RO Match applicants and American College of Graduate Medical Education-accredited RO PDs post-Match. Number and percentage are reported as response per question. Likert-type scores (1, strongly agree; 5, strongly disagree) are reported as median, IQR.
Responses were received from 51 of 246 applicants (21%) and 52 of 88 PDs (59%). Forty applicants (87%) were offered in-person and virtual SLEs; 20 (51%) and 17 (44%) applicants were invited to 1 to 3 and 4 to 6 events, respectively. Most invited applicants attended none (21, 54%). Applicants reported that all (21, 54%) or some (16, 41%) programs communicated intentions to finalize rank order lists (ROLs) before SLEs. Most applicants (29, 74%) agreed that SLEs were optional without ROL consequences (median, 2, IQR 1-3). Applicants declined in-person SLEs due to city/facility indifference (10, 43%), finances (10, 43%), and logistics (9, 39%). Most (12, 86%) in-person SLE attendees agreed that SLEs influenced their ROL (median, 2, IQR 1-2). Nineteen PDs (40%) reported offering SLEs, with 18 of 19 being in-person. PDs who did not offer SLEs cited ethical concerns (13, 45%) and institutional policies (11, 38%). All PDs reported that SLEs were optional, and 18 of 19 explained that the SLE would be without ROL consequences. SLEs mostly occurred in February before (11, 58%) and after (15, 79%) ROL submission.
In-person SLEs occurred during Match 2023. All PDs considered SLEs optional which was trusted by most applicants. Attendance at in-person SLEs influenced applicants' ROLs; however, finances and logistics impaired applicant attendance. Further work is needed to appreciate SLE implications and ensure equitable residency recruitment.
虚拟放射肿瘤学（RO）住院医师面试可能会影响申请人和项目评估。二次考察活动（SLE）存在；然而，其频率、性质和影响尚不清楚。我们对申请人和项目主任（PD）进行了调查，以描述2023年RO匹配的SLE情况并评估各方观点。
在匹配结束后，向2023年RO匹配的申请人和美国研究生医学教育认证的RO PD发放了一份在线匿名调查问卷。报告每个问题的回答数量和百分比。李克特式评分（1，强烈同意；5，强烈不同意）报告为中位数、四分位距。
246名申请人中有51人（21%）回复，88名PD中有52人（59%）回复。40名申请人（87%）收到了面对面和虚拟的SLE邀请；分别有20名（51%）和17名（44%）申请人被邀请参加1至3次和4至6次活动。大多数被邀请的申请人都没有参加（21人，54%）。申请人报告说，所有（21人，54%）或一些（16人，41%）项目在SLE之前传达了确定排名顺序列表（ROL）的意图。大多数申请人（29人，74%）同意SLE是可选的，对ROL没有影响（中位数，2，四分位距1 - 3）。申请人因对城市/机构不感兴趣（10人，43%）、经济原因（10人，43%）和后勤问题（9人，39%）而拒绝面对面的SLE。大多数（12人，86%）参加面对面SLE的人同意SLE影响了他们的ROL（中位数，2，四分位距1 - 2）。19名PD（40%）报告提供了SLE，其中19人中有18人提供的是面对面的。未提供SLE的PD提到了伦理问题（13人，45%）和机构政策（11人，38%）。所有PD都报告说SLE是可选的，19人中有18人解释说SLE对ROL没有影响。SLE大多发生在ROL提交之前（11人，58%）和之后（15人，79%）的2月。
2023年匹配期间有面对面的SLE。所有PD都认为SLE是可选的，这得到了大多数申请人的信任。参加面对面SLE影响了申请人的ROL；然而，经济和后勤问题阻碍了申请人的参与。需要进一步开展工作以了解SLE的影响并确保住院医师招聘的公平性。
