VA residency programs in optometry: characteristics of the applicants.

BACKGROUND

Residency programs in optometry have become an important part of the training of doctors of optometry. Although there have been many studies on the subject, there are no known reports which concentrate solely on the characteristics of residency programs' applicants.

METHODS

Applicant data obtained from the application and matching services utilized by VA programs for the 1991-92 and 1992-93 residency years was analyzed and, in certain circumstances, compared against appropriate national data.

RESULTS

The ratio of applicants to available residency positions exceeded 2:1. The majority of applicants were women. During each residency application year studied, at least one applicant came from each of the accredited schools and colleges of optometry. Stronger scores from the National Board of Examiners in Optometry and higher grade point averages from the optometry curriculum correlated with the matching of an applicant to a residency program.

CONCLUSIONS

As the practice of optometry continues to evolve, the profile of many aspects of optometric education, including residency training, will also change over the years. This paper, as baseline information, may serve in future analyses to demonstrate these changes with respect to applicant characteristics.