Unveiling the Need to Improve Personalized Applicant Tools: A Critical Evaluation of the Reliability of the Texas STAR database in Predicting Match Success for Plastic Surgery Applicants.

Autor: Ewing JN; Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO., Gala Z; Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Department of Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ., Lemdani MS; Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ., Crystal D; Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA., Broach RB; Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA., Azoury SC; Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Electronic address: Said.azoury@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of surgical education [J Surg Educ] 2024 Sep; Vol. 81 (9), pp. 1320-1330. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 20.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2024.06.010
Abstrakt: Objectives: Using Texas STAR (seeking transparency in application to residency), we aimed to 1) examine predictors of matching success in integrated plastic surgery residency programs and 2) assess the reliability of the tool.
Design, Setting, and Participants: A retrospective analysis of self-reported nationwide data of plastic surgery residency applicants between 2021 and 2023 across 146 participating medical schools were included. A comparison analysis was performed between matched and unmatched applicants using chi-squared tests, t-tests, and logistic regression models. NRMP data and literature were referenced to determine reliability.
Results: Of the 209 plastic surgery resident applications, 147 matched (70.3%) and 62 went unmatched (29.7%). Average United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 and 2 scores were 248 and 257, respectively. Between matched and unmatched cohorts, no significant differences were observed in Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) status, Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) status, mean number of research experiences/presentations, volunteer experiences, leadership positions, and programs applied. Significant predictors of matching included taking a research year (OR 2.07, CI 0.99-4.34, p= 0.052), 8+ peer-reviewed publications (OR 2.29, CI 1.22-4.30, p = 0.009), geographic connection (p = 0.02), and 13+ interviews attended (OR 2.94, CI 1.56 -5.51, p < 0.001). These findings are consistent with current literature and the NRMP. Upon analysis of the qualitative free text responses on general recommendations for prospective applicants by users, subinternships, connections, interviews, research, letter of recommendation quality, home advantage, and mentorship were prominent themes of advice provided by both matched and unmatched cohorts.
Conclusions: Texas STAR is a resourceful and reliable tool. We conclude that a research year and geographic connections are strong predictors of matching in plastic surgery. However, more factors (e.g., applicants' home medical school, number of sub internships, and number of mentors) should be considered to make a well-informed decision on determining their own competitiveness, away rotations and residency programs.
(Published by Elsevier Inc.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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