Critical Comparison Of The Quality And Content Of Integrated Vascular Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, And Interventional Radiology Residency Training Program Websites (Preprint)

BACKGROUND With the move to virtual interviewing, residency websites are an important recruitment resource, introducing applicants to programs across the country and allowing for comparison. Recruitment is highly competitive from a common potential pool between vascular surgery, thoracic surgery and interventional radiology with the ratio of applicants to positions being highest in interventional radiology, followed by thoracic surgery and lastly vascular surgery, as reported by the National Resident Matching Program. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the accessibility and availability of online content for those integrated residency programs. METHODS A list of accredited vascular surgery, thoracic surgery, and interventional radiology residencies was obtained from the ACGME. Program websites were evaluated by trained independent reviewers (n=2) for content items pertaining to program recruitment and education (scored absent or present). Statistical analysis was performed in R software RESULTS Of ACGME accredited programs, 56 of 61 (92%) vascular surgery, 27 of 27 (100%) thoracic surgery, and 74 of 85 (87%) interventional radiology programs had functional websites (P=0.122). Vascular surgery websites contained a median of 26 content items (IQR: 20, 32), thoracic surgery websites contained a median of 27 content items (IQR: 21, 32), and interventional radiology websites contained a median of 23 content items (IQR: 18, 27). Two content items considered highly influential to applicant program decision are procedural experience and faculty mentorship, were reported at 32% and 11% for vascular surgery, 19% and 11% for thoracic surgery, and 50% and 15% for interventional radiology (P=0.008 and P=0.751, respectively). Key deficits were work hours, debt management and curriculum for interventional radiology; resident profiles, sample contracts, and research interests in vascular surgery; operative experiences, program director contact and message for thoracic surgery. Interventional radiology deficits were work hours and thoracic surgery deficits were procedural experience. Both IR and CT websites lacked information in evaluation criteria and faculty mentorship. CONCLUSIONS This study has uncovered key differences in availability of online content for residencies recruiting from the same pool of applicants. Thoracic surgery has the most information, followed by vascular surgery, with interventional radiology reporting the least content. In the era of virtual interviewing from the same potential pool of applicants, programs should review and revise their web presence with the aim to increase the availability of online content in order to attract valuable candidates. CLINICALTRIAL n/a

The integrated nuclear medicine and radiology residency program in the Netherlands: strengths and potential areas for improvement according to nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists.

Purpose To evaluate the Dutch integrated nuclear medicine and radiology residency program from the perspective of nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists. Methods A survey was distributed among nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists in hospitals that participate in the Dutch integrated nuclear medicine and radiology training program. Results A total of 139 completed questionnaires were included. Nuclear medicine physicians (n = 36) assigned a mean score of 5.7 ± 2.0, and radiologists (n = 103) assigned a mean score of 6.5 ± 2.8 (on a 1–10 scale) to the success of the integrated training program in their hospital. On multiple regression, female gender of the survey participant (B = 2.22, P = 0.034), musculoskeletal radiology as subspecialty of the survey participant (B = 3.36, P = 0.032), and the survey participant’s expectancy of resident’s ability to handle workload after completion of residency, were significantly associated with perceived success of the integrated training program (B = 1.16, P = 0.023). Perceived strengths of the integrated training program included: broadening of expertise, a better preparation of future imaging specialists for hybrid imaging, increased efficiency in training residents, and increased efficiency in multidisciplinary meetings. Perceived weaknesses of the integrated training program included: reduced exposure to nuclear medicine, less time for research and innovation, and concerns about its international recognition. Conclusion This study provided insights into the experiences of nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists with the Dutch integrated nuclear medicine and radiology residency program, which may be helpful to improve the program and similar residency programs in other countries.