A Comparative Evaluation of Cardiothoracic Radiology Fellowship Website Content

Assessment of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellowship Programs Website

The aim of the study was to assess the comprehensiveness of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) fellowship program websites in North America. All active REI fellowship program websites in the United States of America (USA) and Canada were evaluated and assessed using 72-point scoring criteria. Any fellowship programs without publicly accessible websites were excluded. The scoring criteria consisted of the following domains - recruitment, faculty information, fellow information, research and education, surgical program, clinical work, benefits and career planning, wellness, and environment. We identified 49 REI fellowship programs in the USA and nine in Canada of which 47 A programs and all Canadian programs had an accessible website. The mean score was significantly higher for USA program websites (61.5% (USA) versus 47.7% (Canada); p<0.001). The "wellness" domain had the highest prevalence of criteria (85.3% of websites) across all program websites, whereas the "fellow information" domain had the lowest (20.0% of websites). In conclusion, American REI fellowship program websites included more program-related content, compared to Canadian program websites.

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.

An Evaluation of the Content of Canadian Plastic Surgery Residency Websites

Background: Plastic surgery residency program websites are an important source of information to prospective applicants, especially given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and resulting suspension of all visiting electives and in-person interviews. This study aimed to analyze the online content of Canadian plastic surgery residency program websites. Methods: The content of all accredited Canadian plastic surgery residency websites was evaluated using 77-point criteria in the following 10 domains: recruitment, faculty, residents, research and education, surgical program, clinical work, benefits and career planning, wellness, environment, and gender of faculty leadership. Results: All accredited Canadian plastic surgery residency programs (n = 13) were identified using Canadian Resident Matching Service and had their dedicated program websites available for analysis. On average, residency program websites obtained a score of 33.5 (standard deviation = 13.7). The majority of programs did not score differently on the criteria by geographical distribution (P > .05) nor by ranking (P > .05). Conclusions: Most Canadian plastic surgery residency program websites are lacking content relevant to prospective applicants. Addressing inadequacies in online content may support programs to inform and recruit strong applicants into residency programs.

Analysis of Applicants' Perspectives of Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship Program Websites

BACKGROUND

Cardiothoracic (CT) surgery fellowship websites help applicants determine where they apply and/or accept an interview. However, relevant information from programs is not communicated in a standardized way.

METHODS

We used Fellow and Residency Electronic Interactive Database Access (FREIDA) Online to identify residency programs with traditional CT fellowships. Program-specific variables included presence or absence of tracks, track duration, and annual cardiac and thoracic cases. Resident-specific variables included number of resident(s) a program accepts and case numbers per fellow. Current CT residents completed an online survey in which they rated how important they deemed the presence of these variables in program websites.

RESULTS

According to FREIDA Online, 74 traditional CT surgery fellowship websites were analyzed. Among the websites listed on FREIDA, only 16 (22%) linked directly to the CT fellowship page. Surveys were sent to all trainees enrolled in the 74 programs, and 24 responded. There were marked deficiencies in the availability of information on program websites that was highly valued by trainees. Only 31% of websites reported annual program volume, and 14% reported resident case numbers, while this data was highly valued by >60% of respondents. Similarly, 11% of program websites described their education curriculum, while 81% of respondents highly valued this information. One-quarter of respondents were dissatisfied with the overall information provided by program websites.

CONCLUSIONS

CT fellowship program websites lack crucial content that is deemed highly valued by applicants. This study suggests the possible need for a single comprehensive data repository or a standardized method for communicating information through program websites.

How Comprehensive Are Canadian Plastic Surgery Fellowship Websites?

Background

Online fellowship program websites are more commonly becoming the primary information resource used by prospective applicants. This study aimed to analyze the online content of Canadian plastic surgery fellowship program websites. 

Methods

The content of all accredited Canadian Plastic Surgery fellowship program websites was evaluated using a 75-point criterion in the following ten domains: recruitment, faculty, residents/fellows, research and education, surgical program, clinical work, benefits, and career planning, wellness, environment and gender of faculty leadership. 

Results

On average, fellowship program websites obtained a score of 29.9 (SD=12.6). No correlation was detected between program websites and location (P > 0.05) nor by ranking (P > 0.05). 

Conclusions

Most Canadian plastic surgery fellowship program websites lacked content relevant to prospective applicants. More comprehensive fellowship program websites may be of benefit to prospective applicants and the programs. 

North American urogynecology fellowship programs: value of program website content

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Urogynecology fellowship program websites are an important source of information to potential applicants, especially given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and resulting travel restrictions. Our study evaluated the publicly available information on American and Canadian urogynecology fellowship websites and present recommendations for website content development to promote the subspecialty of urogynecology.

METHODS

Data were collected from all active American and Canadian urogynecology fellowship program websites between May and June 2020 against 72 criteria developed from previously published studies. The criteria included the following sections: Recruitment, Faculty Information, Current Fellows, Research and Education, Surgical Program, Clinical Work, Benefits and Career Planning, Wellness, and Environment.

RESULTS

54 American urogynecology program websites and 11 Canadian urogynecology program websites were analyzed. The mean score of American and Canadian websites was 46.46% (n = 33.45 ± 7.20 out of 72) and 27.40% (n = 19.73 ± 3.77 out of 72), respectively. American program websites scored significantly higher on available information than Canadian websites. The highest prevalence section across American websites was Wellness (64%, n = 1.92 ± 0.85 out of 3 criteria) while the lowest prevalence section was Clinical Work (15.17%, n = 0.91 ± 1.02 out of 6 criteria). Comparatively, Canadian websites scored highest in the Faculty Information section (43.12%, 3.45 ± 2.02) and lowest in the Clinical Work section (6%, n = 0.36 ± 0.67 out of 6 criteria).

CONCLUSIONS

American and Canadian websites thoroughly covered the Wellness and Faculty Information sections, respectively. Program websites should consider adding details about Benefits and Career Planning and Clinical Work.

How well do we represent ourselves: an analysis of musculoskeletal radiology fellowships website content in Canada and the USA

OBJECTIVE

Radiology residents review information available on fellowship program websites for shortlisting programs and for applying for fellowships. The aim of this study was to evaluate the comprehensiveness of musculoskeletal (MSK) fellowship program websites.

METHODS

The content of US and Canadian MSK fellowship program websites was evaluated using 25 distinct criteria in the following domains: application, recruitment, research, clinical, education, clinical work, benefits. Programs without websites were excluded from analysis.

RESULTS

In Canada and the USA, there were 100 MSK fellowship programs, 90 of them having dedicated websites. The average score across all programs was 9.5/25 or 38%. The most comprehensive program included 18/25 items or 72%. The least comprehensive program included only 1/25 items or 4%. The median score across all programs was 9/25 or 36%.More programs included information on the application process (65.5/90, 72.8%; SD 24.7%) than in education/research (24/90, 26.7%; SD 17.3%) or incentives (12.5/90, 13.9%; SD 7.8%).Mean scores amongst US schools did not differ based on geographical distribution (p = 0.32), although they did by rank; schools ranked in the bottom tier scored lower than the unranked, middle, and top tier schools (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The majority of MSK fellowship program websites are not comprehensive. Areas that needed the most improvement include incentives, education/research, clinical teaching, and recruitment information. Addressing these insufficiencies can help programs in easing the application process for prospective fellows and enhance recruitment.

Critical Evaluation of Interventional Neuroradiology Fellowship Program Websites in North America

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the accessibility and content of interventional neuroradiology (INR) fellowship program websites in North America.

METHODS

We obtained a list of INR/endovascular surgical neuroradiology (ESN) fellowship programs from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training, the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery, and the Neurosurgical Fellowship Training Program Directory websites. Individual program websites were evaluated for 27 different fellow recruitment and education criteria. U.S. programs were grouped based on census region and national ranking, and differences between these groups with regard to fellow recruitment and education characteristics were analyzed using nonparametric statistics.

RESULTS

A total of 79 INR/ESN fellowship websites were evaluated for presence of fellow recruitment and education features. Approximately one third of all features pertinent to recruitment (32.11%) and approximately 1 in 5 features regarding education (19.11%) were described in these websites. Program description (69.6%), program coordinator/administrator contact e-mail (59.5%), program director's name (59.5%), program eligibility requirements (51.9%), research opportunities (40.5%), and faculty listing (39.2%) were among the most frequently described features, whereas details about parking (1.3%), interview day itinerary (1.3%), meal allowance (2.5%), retirement and benefits (3.8%), and call schedule (5.1%) were the least frequently described features. There was no significant difference between surveyed features and programs when stratified by U.S. census region, neurosurgery/neurology hospital rankings, or accreditation status.

CONCLUSIONS

INR/ESN fellowship website content is variable across North America and there is room for improvement to develop and enhance comprehensiveness of program website content.

Canadian and American Emergency Radiology Fellowship Websites: An Evaluation of Content

PURPOSE

The internet is commonly employed by Radiology trainees to investigate and learn about potential fellowship programs. As a new and emerging subspecialty, Emergency Radiology requires strong internet presence and training program website content. This is vital to ensure good exposure of the fellowship programs to inform medical students, radiology trainees, and program directors, highlight unique aspects of a fellowship and raise awareness of the discipline at large.

METHODS

To assess the standard and depth of information available online, Canadian and American Radiology fellowship websites were evaluated for content. Thirty-six criteria related to application process and recruitment, departmental structure, incentives, education, and research and clinical training were evaluated for presence or absence.

RESULTS

Sixteen Emergency Radiology fellowship program websites were assessed from the United States and Canada for 36 criteria across 5 individual areas; application process and recruitment, departmental structure, incentives, education and research, and clinical training. Overall there was an absence of information found across all 5 areas. In particular areas for improvement were identified in education and research, and incentives both with median values of 12.5% of criteria present.

CONCLUSION

Most Emergency Radiology fellowship program websites demonstrate several information deficiencies. This relative lack of comprehensive information represents an actionable opportunity for individual programs and the field to better educate trainees, program directors and the public about the unique training of Emergency Radiologists.

An Evaluation of the Content of Canadian and American Nuclear Medicine Fellowship Websites

BACKGROUND

Radiology trainees frequently use the Internet to research potential fellowship programs across all subspecialties. For a field like nuclear medicine, which has multiple training pathways, program websites can be an essential resource for potential applicants. This study aimed to analyze the online content of Canadian and American Nuclear Medicine fellowship websites.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The content of all active Canadian and American Nuclear Medicine fellowship websites was evaluated using 26 criteria in the following subdivisions: application, recruitment, education, research, clinical work, and incentives. Fellowships without websites were excluded from the study. Scores were summed per program and compared by geographic region and ranking.

RESULTS

A total of 42 active Canadian and American Nuclear Medicine fellowship programs were identified, of which 39 fellowships had dedicated fellowship websites available for the analysis. On average, fellowship websites contained 34.4% (9 ± 3.3) of the 26 criteria. Programs did not score differently on the criteria by geographical distribution (P = .08) nor by ranking (P = .18).

CONCLUSION

Most Canadian and American Nuclear Medicine fellowship websites are lacking content relevant to prospective fellows. Addressing inadequacies in online content may support programs to inform and recruit residents into fellowship programs.