Applicant Perceptions
One-hundred eighteen of 610 (19.3%) otolaryngology residents
participated in the survey. Among residents who pursued otolaryngology,
51.3% (n = 58/113) regarded the PSP as a negative influence on the
decision to apply to otolaryngology, of which 9.7% (n = 11) qualified
the PSP as a major negative influence (Figure 2 ). The ORTA
phone interview was regarded as a negative influence in 59.8% (n =
64/107) of otolaryngology residents, of which 19.6% (n = 21) qualified
it as a major negative influence (Figure 3 ). For the classmates
who considered otolaryngology but applied to a different specialty,
otolaryngology residents estimated the PSP and ORTA were negative
influences in 51.6% (n = 49/95) and 47.4% (n = 45/95), respectively,
of which 8.4% (n = 8/95) qualified both the PSP and the ORTA as major
negative influences (Figures 2 and 3 ). Comparing the impact of
the PSP and ORTA on otolaryngology residents and the estimated impact on
the medical school classmates that considered otolaryngology but did not
apply, the PSP impact was similar whereas the ORTA interview was
estimated to have a more negative influence on otolaryngology residents
than on those who ultimately applied to a different specialty (P= 0.050).
The reputation that it is difficult to match in otolaryngology was
viewed as a negative influence among 45.2% (n = 52/115) of
otolaryngology residents, of which 12.2% (n = 14) qualified it as a
major negative influence (Figure 4 ). Reputation was estimated
to be a negative influence in 78.9% (n = 82/104) of medical students
who ultimately applied to a different specialty. Reputation had a
significantly stronger negative influence on the medical school
classmates that considered otolaryngology but did not apply than on
otolaryngology residents themselves (P < 0.001).
Advice from PDs was viewed as a negative influence in 6.5% (n = 7/107)
of residents who matched into otolaryngology, and 31.4% (n = 27/86) of
those who applied to a different specialty (Figure 5 ). Advice
from PDs was estimated to have a more negative influence on applicants
who applied to other specialties than for the matched otolaryngology
residents (P < 0.001). Finally, when otolaryngology
residents were asked about the influence of number of classmates
applying to otolaryngology from one institution, 69.5% (n = 82/118) of
residents reported this did not influence their decision to pursue an
otolaryngology residency at all, and 18.6% (n = 22) regarded this as
only a slight negative influence.