Critical evaluation of functional neurosurgical fellowship program websites
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Gariscsak P
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10064417 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Similar Datasets
Project description:Fellowship program website content has been studied for some ophthalmological subspecialties; however, pediatric ophthalmology fellowship program websites have not been previously studied. Our cross-sectional analysis reveals that all US pediatric ophthalmology fellowship programs maintain an active website that is visible after Google search, which is not the case for all glaucoma, vitreoretinal surgery, or ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery fellowship programs. Content on pediatric ophthalmology fellowship program websites varied widely, with program websites averaging only 12 ± 3.3 of 20 recruitment and education criteria evaluated (range, 3-18). Total number of fellows, number of clinical faculty, and geographic region did not affect fellowship program website content score. Fewer than half of fellowship program websites contained criteria often deemed important by applicants, including geographic placement of graduates, salary/benefits, and call schedule. Optimized recruitment and education content on fellowship programs websites may help applicants identify programs that best align with their career goals.
| S-EPMC10728496 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundWebsites are an important source of information for fellowship applicants, as they can influence ongoing interest and potential program selection.ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the current state of colorectal fellowship websites.MethodsThis cross-sectional study evaluates the quantity and quality of information available on websites of colorectal fellowship programs verified by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in 2019.ResultsA total of 63 colorectal fellowships were included for evaluation. Websites were surveyed for content items that previous studies have found to be influential to program applicants. The 58 (91%) programs with a functional website were evaluated using an information index (calculated as a function of availability of content items concerning education, application, personnel, and benefits) and an interactive index (calculated as a function of accessibility and usability of the webpage). Programs had a median total score of 27.8 (IQR 21.5-34.5) of 79. The median score for the interactive index was 7.5 of 15 and for the information index was 20 of 64. The median scores for website application, education, personnel, and benefits or life considerations were 5, 5.5, 3.3, and 4 of 13, 24, 13, and 14, respectively. There was no difference in total score between programs in different geographical regions (P=.46).ConclusionsCurrently, colorectal surgery fellowship program websites do not provide enough content for applicants to make informed decisions. All training programs, regardless of specialty, should evaluate and improve their digital footprint to ensure their websites are accessible and provide the information desired by applicants.
| S-EPMC8556633 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Fellowship program websites represent an important information source for applicants. Our results demonstrate that vitreoretinal surgery fellowship websites are inconsistent and often incomplete. Incorporating additional recruitment and education criteria may improve website information potential.
| S-EPMC10755093 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesDue to the limitations of the Coronavirus disease pandemic, medical applicants have relied on remote means of information, such as a program's website, to decide where to apply. However, studies have shown that many residency and fellowship websites lack information. Vascular neurology fellowship websites have not yet been studied. This study evaluates the availability and accessibility of information on vascular neurology fellowship websites.MethodsFrom 2021 to 2022, a total of 109 U.S. vascular neurology fellowship programs from the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database were investigated to determine whether they had websites. Each website was evaluated on the immediate availability of 34 different criteria, which were deemed important by past studies. These criteria were reviewed under four categories: program overview, application information, fellow life, and curriculum. The comprehensiveness of the information among these different categories were analyzed. Programs were grouped by geographic region and electronic residency application service (ERAS)-participation status and comparisons were made within these groups.ResultsThere were 107 programs with websites (98%). ERAS-participating programs fulfilled more criteria on average than non-participating programs (P = 0.004). All websites provided information on general descriptions of their programs, but information on board exam pass rates, fellow testimonials, history of the fellowship program, responsibility progression, family and social events, parking availability, and application deadline were provided by less than 25% of websites.ConclusionThis study found that there was a large lack of information on vascular neurology fellowship websites, which could be improved to attract more applicants.
| S-EPMC10868479 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionThe 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionWhen 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.
| S-EPMC9283496 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to determine which components of sports medicine fellowships are most important to applicants when reviewing fellowship websites during the application process.MethodsAn anonymous survey was distributed to 492 fellowship applicants from the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 cycles. The survey included questions about the importance of including components of fellow education, recruitment, and experience on program websites. The weighted average of responses determined each component's rank, with 5 being "very important" and 1 being "not at all important." Responses were analyzed by application cycle, current position, and sex using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test.ResultsSixty-five applicants participated in the survey and completed the demographics section, resulting in a 13.2% response rate. According to participants, the most important components to include on fellowship websites were exposure to advanced operative sports medicine techniques (weighted average, 4.62), complexity of cases performed (4.52), and number of cases performed (4.50). Analysis demonstrated statistically significant differences in opinion between application cycles for flexibility for conducting a remote interview (P = .0074), jobs obtained by previous fellows (P = .019), national rank of department (P = .021), program's geographic location (P = .026), protected academic time (P = .038), current positions for criteria for fellows' performance evaluations (P = .028), program's geographic location (P = .0097), and protected academic time (P = .0079). There were statistically significant differences in opinion between current positions regarding flexibility for conducting a remote interview (P = .0026), jobs obtained by previous fellows (P = .012), and national rank of department (P = .0013).ConclusionsOrthopaedic sports medicine fellowship applicants believe that it is most important to include information about the volume and complexity of fellows' cases and their day-to-day commitments on program websites.Clinical relevanceThis information would enable applicants to identify programs that will support professional development and allow program directors to communicate expectations.
| S-EPMC8220630 | biostudies-literature
Project description:PurposeGiven decreasing use of pulmonary artery (PA) catheterization, we sought to evaluate whether current pulmonary and critical care fellows have adequate opportunity to obtain proficiency in PA catheter placement and data interpretation.MethodsAll US pulmonary and critical care program directors were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey regarding current training opportunities in PA catheterization.ResultsThe response rate was 51% (69/136). Eighty-three percent reported that the number of PA catheterizations performed by fellows within their program has decreased in the past decade. Fifty-four percent estimated that their fellows currently participate in less than 10 supervised procedures during fellowship. The most frequently identified barriers to training were procedure volume and reluctance to place PA catheters in the medical intensive care unit. Forty-three percent of respondents agreed that training in PA catheter placement is currently adequate within their program, and 55% agreed that training in data interpretation is adequate. Only 39% of respondents believe that PA catheter placement should continue to be an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education training requirement.ConclusionsMany current pulmonary and critical care fellows do not have the opportunity to gain proficiency in PA catheterization. Fellowship training programs should consider alternate means of training fellows in PA catheter data interpretation, such as simulation.
| S-EPMC3770745 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionThe United States is experiencing maternity care shortages. Family physicians can play a role in addressing these shortages. Family medicine obstetrics fellowships train family physicians in obstetrics care. Fellowship websites are important for promoting programs and attracting applicants. However, whether websites provide sufficient program information is unknown. This study aimed to assess completeness and utility of family medicine obstetrics fellowship websites across the United States.MethodThe study analyzed 46 family medicine obstetrics fellowship websites. The component analysis evaluated the presence of 17 components related to orientation, curriculum, program, personnel, and additional content. The qualitative analysis included ratings for navigation and application, information quality, and esthetics. Analysis included percentages for websites and components and average qualitative ratings.ResultsCommon components included overviews, training requirements, and contact information. Description of the patient population was the least common component. Usability ratings varied across programs, with higher ratings observed for navigation and application, and information quality. Esthetics and visual appeal received lower ratings. Regional analysis indicated that websites from fellowships in the West and Southwest tended to include more components compared to those in the Southeast.DiscussionFamily medicine obstetrics fellowship websites serve as valuable sources of program information for prospective applicants. However, not all websites include essential program details. Some information is rarely provided. Given the shortage of maternity care providers, it is crucial to develop informative and functional websites to attract applicants. Improving website content and design could prove to be a cost-effective strategy to increase the number of applicants.
| S-EPMC10823850 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceThe US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that individuals at high risk for lung cancer consider benefits and harms before pursuing lung cancer screening. Medical centers develop websites for their lung cancer screening programs, but to date little is known about the websites' portrayal of benefits and harms or what next steps they recommend for individuals considering screening.ObjectiveTo assess the presentation of potential benefits and harms and recommended next steps on lung cancer screening program websites.Design, setting, and participantsCross-sectional content analysis of 162 lung cancer screening program websites of academic medical centers (n = 81) and state-matched community medical centers (n = 81) that were randomly selected from American College of Radiology lung cancer screening-designated centers was conducted. The study was performed from December 1, 2018, to January 31, 2019.Main outcomes and measuresWebsite presentation of screening-associated benefits and harms was the primary outcome. Benefit was defined as any description related to the potential reduction in lung cancer mortality. Harms were based on the US Preventive Services Task Force recommendations and included false positives, false negatives, overdiagnosis, radiation exposure, and incidental findings. The secondary outcome was next steps that are recommended by websites.ResultsOverall, the 162 lung cancer screening program websites described the potential benefits more frequently than they described any potential harms (159 [98%] vs 78 [48%], P < .01). False-positive findings were the most frequently reported (72 [44%]) potential harm. Community centers were less likely than academic centers to report any potential harm (32 [40%] vs 46 [57%], P = .03), potential harm from radiation (20 [25%] vs 35 [43%], P = .01), and overdiagnosis (0% vs 11 [14%], P < .01). One hundred nineteen websites (73%) did not explicitly recommend that individuals personally consider the potential benefits and harms of screening; community centers were less likely than academic centers to give this recommendation (15 [19%] vs 28 [35%], P = .02). Most institutions (157 [97%]) listed follow-up steps for screening, but few institutions (35 [22%]) recommended that individuals discuss benefits and harms with a health care professional.Conclusions and relevanceInformation on public-facing websites of US lung cancer screening programs appears to lack balance with respect to portrayal of potential benefits and harms of screening. Important harms, such as overdiagnosis, were commonly ignored in the sites evaluated, and most of the centers did not explicitly guide individuals toward a guideline-recommended, shared decision-making discussion of harms and benefits.
| S-EPMC7154949 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Purpose With the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person fellowship interviews were curtailed, leading candidates to seek information from other resources. Our main purposes were (1) to determine what information recent participants in the match needed to evaluate programs and (2) to assess which of these were available online. Methods A focus group of ten recent graduates/applicants identified information that was important in choosing a fellowship program. In August 2020 and December 2021, websites belonging to the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) and individual programs were assessed. Results Recent applicants identified 55 pieces of information considered important to their decision making. Of 57 pediatric surgery fellowships, 98% were listed on APSA’s website. Program descriptions on APSA’s website listed on average 60% of program information desired by applicants. All listed fellowship director, accreditation status, faculty list, and current fellow(s). Other descriptors frequently noted were alumni (95%), graduate’s board performance (83%), ECMO exposure (77%), and curriculum (70%). Information desired but less frequently available were fellow case logs (63%), trauma center designation (53%), burn center designation (40%), research opportunities (30%), candidate interview assistance (25%), and supplemental fellowships (12%). There were 7% of program descriptions that were not updated for at least a year. Conclusions APSA and individual program websites were complimentary. Websites often lacked data that applicants sought to inform their rank list. To best adapt to the evolving virtual interview paradigm, we suggest reporting key information on a central APSA website with more nuanced information available via links to program specific websites. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44186-023-00104-w.
| S-EPMC9874179 | biostudies-literature