Accessibility and Content of Abdominal Transplant Fellowship Program Websites in the United States

A Cross-Sectional Study of Graduate Medical Education in Radiological Fellowships using Accessible Content

Graduate medical education in radiology serves an imperative role in training the next generation of specialists. Given the regularity of virtual interviews, the website of a fellowship programs remains a critical first-line source of information of applicants. The aim of this study is to systematically evaluate 7 radiology fellowship programs utilizing a systematic process. A cross-sectional descriptive 286 graduate medical education fellowship programs in radiology were screened from the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA). Extracted data was evaluated for comprehensiveness using 20 content criteria, and a readability score is calculated. The mean comprehensiveness among all fellowship program websites was 55.8% (n = 286), and the average FRE among the program overview sections was 11.9 (n = 214). ANOVA revealed no statistical significance in program website comprehensiveness between radiology fellowships (P = 0.33). The quality of a program's website data continues to serve an important role in an applicant's decision-making. Fellowship programs have improved in their content availability overtime, but content reevaluation needs to be continued for tangible improvement.

The Virtual Face of Colon and Rectal Surgery Training in the USA: An In-Depth Evaluation and Analysis of Fellowship Programs Website Content

BACKGROUND

With an ever-evolving digital and virtual world hastened by the COVID-19 pandemic, prospective colon and rectal surgery fellowship applicants must rely on online sources of information, such as websites, rather than in-person visits to fellowship programs. This study analyzes and evaluates the content and accuracy of colon and rectal surgery fellowship program websites.

METHODS

The Fellowship and Residency Electronic and Interactive Database website provides a complete collection of colon and rectal surgery fellowship websites based in the USA. The accessibility of the websites was verified via Google search, and relevant content for the applicants was evaluated based on 50-point criteria.

RESULTS

Analysis of 60 fellowship program websites was conducted, out of which only a fifth (20%) were kept up to date. Twenty-seven (45%) websites fulfilled 50% of the 50-point criteria. The most and least included data points were program overview (69%) and residential/housing information (24%). Most websites contained basic information relevant to international applicants but lacked crucial information such as visa sponsorship (12%) and city information (23%).

CONCLUSION

An informative and easily accessible website is essential for prospective applicants to choose the best program for their career goals and academic needs. This study highlighted multiple areas for potential improvement in the colon and rectal surgery program websites. Individual colon and rectal surgery programs may benefit and attract more candidates to their programs through a fully optimized website design and content.

Evaluation of Online Critical Care Fellowship Programs

Background The objective of this study was to assess the accessibility and content of the critical care fellowship websites provided on the Electronic Residency Application Services (ERAS) website. Methods Using the online information provided by ERAS, we compiled a list of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited critical care fellowship programs. Each of the links provided by ERAS was evaluated by a standard search on Google as follows: the program name + "critical care fellowship". After assembling the working links, those websites were subsequently evaluated based on the program description, application process, and educational content. Results We reviewed 59 critical care fellowship programs that were obtained from ERAS. Of the 59 programs, one retracted its participation and was not included in the study, and six other programs were excluded due to repeated links on ERAS, nonworking links, and websites without any content. We analyzed the data collected from the remaining 52 programs. Our data shows a general lack of information being provided to prospective critical care candidates. Conclusions ERAS is a major source of information for prospective fellows looking for critical care fellowships in the current match. Unfortunately, the majority of the programs evaluated lack substantial information for prospective candidates. Despite many websites containing adequate information regarding program descriptions, there was a lack of information regarding the application process and educational activities.

Characterizing the Accessibility and Content of Surgical and Medical Retina Fellowship Program Websites

Purpose: To assess the accessibility and content of surgical and medical retina fellowship websites. Methods: The websites of all surgical and medical retina fellowship programs were examined. Each program's website was evaluated based on information available on 10 recruitment and 10 training criteria. The presence of the criteria was summed to calculate a total content score (range, 0-20). Also examined were the differences in website content score by number of fellows, geographic location, and Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) compliance. Results: This study identified 102 surgical and 25 medical retina programs. Overall, 91.2% of surgical and 88.0% of medical retina programs had an accessible website. The surgical retina program website contained a mean of 9.8 of the total criteria, including 4.9 recruitment criteria and 5.2 training criteria, with no significant differences by number of fellows, geography, or AUPO status. Medical retina websites contained a mean of 9.3 total criteria, including 4.5 recruitment criteria and 4.9 training criteria. Website content scores for medical retina programs were associated with geography and AUPO status, which was consistent when stratifyed by recruitment and training criteria. Conclusions: Most surgical and medical retina fellowships have an accessible program website. However, there are opportunities to improve the completeness and consistency of information on these websites. Improved websites can help programs attract well-suited candidates and might address multiple inefficiencies in the application process.

Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) fellowship website content: are applicants receiving enough information?

BACKGROUND

Advanced GI/Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) fellowships are one of the largest non-ACGME post-residency training pathways. MIS programs are highly competitive, with only 68% of applicants in the 2021 cycle successfully matching into fellowship positions. An evaluation of MIS fellowship program websites is warranted to determine if applicants are receiving adequate information to meet their needs.

METHODS

Using the Fellowship Council website, the authors identified 92 MIS fellowship programs that advertised open fellowships positions for general surgery residency graduates. These 92 fellowship websites were evaluated for 12 pre-identified variables based on published literature.

RESULTS

90% of websites included access to contact information for a program director/coordinator and 72% of websites displayed selection criteria; however, other recruitment information offered to applicants was limited. Only 25% of websites mentioned interview details, 34% of websites showcased current or past fellows, and 51% included a faculty directory. Regarding operative information, only 46% of MIS fellowship websites mentioned case volume, 23% mentioned locations of rotations, and 55% mentioned rotation schedule selection criteria. Didactic information was focused on research productivity with 80% of websites highlighting scholarly requirements; academic conferences were only mentioned in 40% of websites. Fellow wellness and career information was skipped on many websites, with 30% describing resident benefits and 16% dedicating a section to career development. Overall, the mean number of pre-identified variables present on a fellowship website was 6.57 ± 2.39 (54.75 ± 19.17%).

CONCLUSIONS

General surgery residents turn to program websites when evaluating MIS fellowships. Although websites contain adequate information on several variables evaluated in the study, information on benefits and career development, fellow and faculty support, and case volume were limited. By including relevant information, MIS fellowship websites can align with ACGME requirements, strengthen existing frameworks, and help display data that are important to applicants.

An evaluation of the content of hematology and medical oncology fellowship websites

Introduction

The growing demand for Hematology and Oncology services has greatly piqued the interest of potential residents towards this specialty. Since the programs' official websites are now becoming the primary source of information that potential residents turn to, we aimed to analyze program websites’ content and availability across parameters that have been used by evaluators of websites.

Methods

& Materials: A list of 181 fellowship programs were identified using The Fellowship and Residency Electronic and Interactive Database (FRIEDA). 160/181 were accessed via a hyperlink or Google search. Content of these websites was evaluated on a 40-point criteria system in 10 distinct domains. Websites without accessible links were excluded from the search.

Results

The 160 programs were divided based on the region with the North-East having the most programs (32.5%) and the West having the least programs (12.4%). Exactly 3/4th of the websites had been updated with the latest available information. “Program overview” (89%) was the most common domain present on the websites while “Alumni” was the least common, present on only (25%) of the websites.

Conclusion

When compared with previous similar research, there have been a few significant improvements across the programs' websites, however many still lack important information regarding certain domains. The content and availability of the program's website can encourage or deter an applicant, in their decision to apply to the program, hence making it necessary for programs to augment their websites.

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Assessing the quality of content of fellowship programs using a 40-point criteria system for 10 distinct domains.

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Aim is to help optimise applicant virtual experience when they're searching through fellowship websites.

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The most prevalent domain mentioned by 89% of fellowship websites was ‘Program Overview’.

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The least common domain reported was ‘Alumni information’ by only 23% fellowship programs.

An Update on Foot and Ankle Fellowship Website Content and Accessibility

Background:

The content and accessibility of foot and ankle fellowship websites impact applicants and fellowship programs. This study aimed to evaluate the accessibility provided via the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) websites and individual websites.

Methods:

The AOFAS website was used to identify existing foot and ankle fellowship programs. The database information was reviewed for links to fellowship program websites, which was corroborated through a Google search for accessibility. Information from fellowship program websites and the AOFAS was analyzed for the presence of recruitment and educational content, and this analysis was compared to previously reported metrics.

Results:

Forty-eight orthopedic foot and ankle fellowship programs were identified. The AOFAS database featured direct links to 19 (40%) fellowship websites with the Google search providing direct links to 35 (73%) websites. Foot and ankle fellowship information markedly improved in domains of Salary/Benefits (+233%), Rotations/Curriculum (+199%), and Faculty Listing (+67%), but there was a reduction in available content in the domains of Operative Experience (–79%), Office/Clinic information (–78%), and Didactics (–39%) compared with the lone existing study.

Conclusion:

There continues to be variability between foot and ankle fellowship websites and the AOFAS website regarding program content and descriptions. Some information is more readily available, but other domains have less information now than in previously reported research.