Association of Virtual Away Rotations With Residency Applicant Outcomes in Otolaryngology

To examine how virtual away rotations might influence interview and match outcomes in otolaryngology.

Cross-sectional retrospective analysis of survey-based study.

United States medical students applying to otolaryngology residency in the 2020 to 2021 cycle.

The Texas Seeking Transparency in Application to Residency database was queried to identify otolaryngology applicants during the 2020 to 2021 cycle. The primary outcome was mean number of interview offers. χ ² tests, 2-sided t tests, logistic regression models, and ordinary least squares regression models were used to examine associations with virtual away rotations.

Among 115 otolaryngology applicants identified, 35 (30.4%) applicants reported completing 1 or more virtual away rotations. Applicants who completed at least 1 virtual away rotation received significantly more interview offers than their counterparts who did not participate in virtual away rotations (mean [SD], 14.9 [8.2] vs 11.6 [7.9]; P < .03). Each virtual away rotation completed was associated with an incremental increase of 2 additional interview offers (β coefficient: 2.29 [95% confidence interval, CI: 0.8-3.7; P < .01]). Applicants who completed a virtual away rotation were more likely to receive an interview from that program (62.7% vs 16.8%, P < .01) and to match there (odds ratio 7.7 [95% CI: 2.7-21.7]; P < .01) when compared to applicants who had not done the away rotation. Participation in virtual away rotations was not associated with significant improvement in match success (82.9% vs 67.5%; P = .09).

Virtual away rotations were associated with improved program-specific interview and match outcomes, as well as a higher overall number of interview offers.