The Content and Accessibility of Orthopaedic Residency Program Websites

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Applicants to orthopaedic surgery residency programs face a competitive match. Internet resources such as program websites allow prospective applicants to gauge interest in particular programs. This study evaluated the content and accessibility of orthopaedic surgery residency program websites. METHODS: Existing orthopaedic surgery residency programs for the 2020 application cycle were identified on the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) website. Individual program websites were accessed through links directly from the ERAS website, and a Google search for each program was performed to corroborate accessibility. Programs websites were then reviewed and evaluated on the presence of 20 criteria selected for their potential to influence resident recruitment (10) and education (10), respectively. The results were compared with the lone 2001 study and with orthopaedic fellowship website analyses. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-nine orthopaedic surgery residency programs were accredited at the time of the study. Only 6 programs (3.2%) did not have a website identifiable through ERAS or Google searches, leaving a final sample size of 183 websites. Approximately 73.3% of all recruitment content and 44.9% of education content were present on the websites available. There was a significant increase in all available recruitment and education content (p < 0.05) when compared with the lone 2001 study. Orthopaedic residency program websites provide comparable recruitment content at a higher rate (71.1%) than orthopaedic fellowship websites (59.6%) but fall slightly below average in presentation of education content (44.9% vs 45.9%). CONCLUSION: This is the first study in nearly 20 years to assess the content and accessibility of orthopaedic residency program websites. There is noticeable variability in the presentation of website content, but approximately 73.3% of recruitment content and 44.9% of the educational content were easily accessible through internet search. Orthopaedic surgery residency programs and their applicants may benefit from standardization of program websites and an increase in recruitment and education content.

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