Evaluation of the content and accessibility of microsurgery fellowship program websites

Abstract

Microsurgery fellowship applicants utilize Internet-based resources such as the San Francisco Match (SF Match) to manage their applications. In deciding where to apply, applicants rely on advice from mentors and online resources including microsurgery fellowship websites (MFWs). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the content and accessibility of MFWs. While microsurgery is practiced by many surgical specialties, this study focused on MFWs for programs available in the 2014 Microsurgery Fellowship Match. Program lists from the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM) and the San Francisco Match (SF Match) were analyzed for the accessibility of MFW links. MFWs were evaluated for education and recruitment content, and MFW comprehensiveness was compared on the basis of program characteristics using chi square tests. Of the 25 fellowships available, only 18 had websites (72%). SF Match and ASRM listed similar programs (96% overlap) and provided website links (89%, 76%), but only a minority connected directly to the MFW (38%, 23%). A minority of programs were responsive via email inquiry (36%). MFWs maintained minimal education and recruitment content. MFW comprehensiveness was not associated with program characteristics. MFWs are often not readily accessible and contain limited information for fellowship applicants. Given the relative low-cost of website development, MFWs may be improved to facilitate fellow recruitment.

Microsurgery Fellowship Website and Social Media Presence: Are Programs Optimizing Recruitment Strategy?

“…In addition, while we note marginal improvement in some content variables compared with those reported in previous literature, we found an overall interval decrease in information on variables that might be viewed as most valuable by potential applicants such as selection process and current/previous fellow listing that could be used to assess fellowship experience. 4 We evaluated multiple unique variables such as positions held by previous fellows and amount of call that have not been previously examined. We presume that one of the key factors for pursuing a fellowship in microsurgery is for future employment opportunities, yet we find that MFWs largely do not provide such information to applicants.…”

“…Twenty-two independent variables were assessed based on previously published data. 4,[9][10][11][12][13][14]…”

“…In 2015, Silvestre et al conducted the first study to evaluate the content and accessibility of MFWs by querying two resources commonly used by microsurgery fellowship applicants: San Francisco Match Web site (SF Match) and American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM). 4 The authors concluded that there was poor accessibility and an overall lack of content on MFWs. Since this study, the number of microsurgery fellowship programs and available fellowship positions has increased by 20%.…”

Online corporate communications: website usability and content

“…And it clearly demonstrates the firm's commitment to the society that surrounds it (Gomez and Chalmeta, 2011). Finally, the fourth indicator proposed relates to accessibility (Zaphiris and Ellis, 2001;Silvestre et al, 2015;Aziz and Kamaludin, 2015), in particular, to the adaptation of web portals' content to different forms of access or to possible limitations of the user.…”

An Update on Foot and Ankle Fellowship Website Content and Accessibility

“…12 Meanwhile, improving website content and accessibility is a trend observed in more fellowships than just orthopedic subspecialties. 1,9,10,13,19 Seventy percent of pathology residents rate the fellowship's website as the most important source from which to obtain information. 11 Foot and ankle fellowship content has previously been evaluated by Hinds et al, 7 with the authors finding considerable variability in the accessibility of information online.…”