TY - JOUR
T1 - Global Pandemic and Plastic Surgery Residency Match
T2 - Can Social Media Fill the Void?
AU - Duque, Sofia
AU - Riccelli, Vincent
AU - Mulqueen, Sydney
AU - Zhang, Andrew Y.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Aesthetic Society. Reprints and permission: journals.permissions@oup.com.
PY - 2021/11/1
Y1 - 2021/11/1
N2 - Background: The type of content that influences plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) residency program selection and attracts applicants is continually changing and not clearly understood. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major yet undetermined impact on residency selection. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the type of PRS social media (SM) content that drives prospective applicants' interest in a residency program, and the degree of SM influence on applicants, especially in the context of COVID-19. Methods: Prospective PRS residency applicants were surveyed anonymously. Results: An average of 60% of respondents reported that PRS SM content influenced their perception of a program. Fifty-eight percent reported that resident lifestyle content made them more interested in a program. Separately, 32% reported that resident lifestyle content influenced them to rank a program higher. Seventy-two percent of respondents claimed SM content did not make them lose interest in a program. Rarely posting, outdated content, and lack of engagement were cited as factors for loss of interest in a program. A majority of respondents (53%) reported wanting to see more resident life and culture content on SM. Of the existing PRS SM content, respondents were most interested in resident lifestyle, followed by clinical and program-specific content. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic amplified the importance of SM PRS residency selection. Resident lifestyle content was consistently indicated as more likely to make respondents gain interest in a program, rank a program higher, and as the most desired content. PRS programs will benefit from highlighting resident camaraderie, quality of life, hobbies, and lifestyle to attract applicants.
AB - Background: The type of content that influences plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) residency program selection and attracts applicants is continually changing and not clearly understood. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major yet undetermined impact on residency selection. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the type of PRS social media (SM) content that drives prospective applicants' interest in a residency program, and the degree of SM influence on applicants, especially in the context of COVID-19. Methods: Prospective PRS residency applicants were surveyed anonymously. Results: An average of 60% of respondents reported that PRS SM content influenced their perception of a program. Fifty-eight percent reported that resident lifestyle content made them more interested in a program. Separately, 32% reported that resident lifestyle content influenced them to rank a program higher. Seventy-two percent of respondents claimed SM content did not make them lose interest in a program. Rarely posting, outdated content, and lack of engagement were cited as factors for loss of interest in a program. A majority of respondents (53%) reported wanting to see more resident life and culture content on SM. Of the existing PRS SM content, respondents were most interested in resident lifestyle, followed by clinical and program-specific content. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic amplified the importance of SM PRS residency selection. Resident lifestyle content was consistently indicated as more likely to make respondents gain interest in a program, rank a program higher, and as the most desired content. PRS programs will benefit from highlighting resident camaraderie, quality of life, hobbies, and lifestyle to attract applicants.
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U2 - 10.1093/asj/sjab222
DO - 10.1093/asj/sjab222
M3 - Article
C2 - 33970220
AN - SCOPUS:85118243100
SN - 1090-820X
VL - 41
SP - NP1747-NP1753
JO - Aesthetic surgery journal
JF - Aesthetic surgery journal
IS - 11
ER -