The Impact of COVID-19 on Plastic Surgery Home Program Match Rates

Faletsky, Adam; Zitkovsky, Helen S.; Guo, Lifei

doi:10.1097/sap.0000000000002981

Cited by 17 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(31 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our findings validated our hypothesis that a greater proportion of students applying for orthopaedics residency in 2021 would match at their home program compared with previous application cycles. These results mirror the findings of similar recent studies in plastic surgery, urology, otolaryngology, and dermatology 24-28 .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on the 2021 Orthopaedic Surgery Match Outcomes

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 2021 orthopaedic surgery residency match outcomes. Because in-person away rotations and interviews were canceled during the 2020 to 2021 application cycle, we hypothesized that applicants would match at their home program at a higher rate in 2021 than in previous years. Methods: We queried allopathic orthopaedic surgery residency websites and social media accounts for names of residents and medical school information for cohorts matching from 2017 through 2021. To assess availability of and participation in virtual away rotations, we administered a survey to Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education -accredited allopathic orthopaedic surgery residency programs. The primary outcome was the annual proportion of applicants matching at the program affiliated with their medical school ("home program"). Subgroup analyses were stratified by Doximity reputation ranking and availability of a virtual away rotation. Results: We identified 2,632 residents who matched between 2017 and 2020 and 698 residents who matched in 2021. Overall home program match rate and likelihood of home matching were higher in 2021 compared with 2017 to 2020 (28% vs. 20%; odds ratio [OR] = 1.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24-1.82, p < 0.001). The increase in the home match rate at programs ranked in the top 30 (27% vs. 20%, p = 0.034) was similar to the increase at programs ranked outside the top 30 (28% vs. 20%, p < 0.001). Of the 66 (48%) programs that responded to the survey, 16 (24%) offered a virtual away rotation. Programs with a higher Doximity ranking were more likely than lower-ranked programs to offer a virtual away rotation (OR = 6.75, 95% CI 1.95-23.4, p = 0.003). Home match rates did not differ significantly between programs that offered a virtual away rotation and those that did not (26% vs. 32%, p = 0.271). Conclusions: A higher proportion of orthopaedic surgery residency applicants matched at their home program in 2021 compared with previous years. Limitations on in-person activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to this rise. Level of Evidence: N/A.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on the 2021 Orthopaedic Surgery Match Outcomes

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Numerous studies evaluating 2021 match data showed a significant increase in applicants matching at their home institutions compared with previous years. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] The link between these changes and the COVID-19 pandemic has been described in detail. Among students interested in plastic surgery, COVID-19 not only affected the residency application process but also negatively impacted these students' confidence in their medical education.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 and the Integrated Plastic Surgery Match: An Update on Match Trends by Applicant Location

Kebede

Marxen

et al. 2022

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: COVID-19 significantly impacted the residency match process. Away rotations and in-person interviews were canceled in 2021, resulting in a geographic shift in integrated plastic surgery match results. Although several of these limitations were lifted during the 2022 cycle, the resulting geographic outcomes have yet to be described. This study aims to determine whether the changes seen during the previous cycle persisted despite loosened restrictions. Methods: Integrated plastic surgery match results and applicants' home institutions from the 2022 match cycle were determined using publicly available data. Geographic data from this cycle were then compared with pre-COVID-19 match cycles (2016-2020) and the COVID-19-affected 2021 match cycle. Results: Eighty percent (n = 68) of US integrated plastic surgery programs were included in this study. In 2022, 18.42% of applicants matched at their home institution compared with 25.12% in 2021. There was no significant difference in home, state, or regional match rates between 2022 and the five cycles preceding the pandemic (2016)(2017)(2018)(2019)(2020). Combining these data to reflect the non-COVID-19-affected cycles (2016-2020 and 2022) and comparing to the COVID-19-affected cycle (2021), a significant difference in rates of home matches (P = 0.0395) was identified. Conclusions: A significant increase in home institution match rates was not noted during the 2022 cycle. This return to pre-COVID-19 rates is likely attributed to the loosening of restrictions and more opportunities for interaction between applicants and programs outside of their home institution.

show abstract

“…2 Our findings were reinforced by multiple studies published following the 2021 plastic surgery match cycle, all supporting the conclusion that with changing interview structures and eliminating away sub-internships, rates of medical students matching at home institutions were significantly higher. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%