Compete or commit: Preferences for early commitment process or ASHP Match among pharmacy residency program directors...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Residency Recruitment
• Graduate Medical Education

Background:

• The ASHP Resident Matching Program (ASHP Match) and the early commitment process (ECP) are key recruitment methods for postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) pharmacy residency positions.
• Understanding the preferences of both program directors and residents is crucial for optimizing recruitment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the recruitment preferences of PGY2 pharmacy residency program directors and PGY1 residents seeking PGY2 positions.
• To identify the key drivers influencing these recruitment preferences.

Main Methods:

• Two web-based questionnaires were distributed to PGY2 program directors (RPDs) and PGY1 residents.
• Surveys collected data on preferences for the ASHP Match versus the ECP and ranked factors influencing these decisions.

Main Results:

• A majority of RPDs (70.2%) preferred the ECP for PGY2 recruitment.
• The most significant factor for RPDs was the PGY1 resident's personality and fit.
• Most PGY1 residents (83.5%) preferred the ECP, citing opportunities for further development at their current site as a primary reason.

Conclusions:

• Both PGY2 programs and residents show a general preference for the ECP over the ASHP Match.
• Stakeholders should consider these findings when deciding on participation in either recruitment process.