Voting Trends Among Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Trainees

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Civic Engagement

Background:

• Health policies influence clinical practice and patient outcomes.
• Civic engagement, including voting, is a crucial aspect of professional responsibility.
• Voter participation among Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) trainees is not well understood and may face unique training-related barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate voter participation rates among OHNS trainees.
• To identify barriers affecting electoral participation in this demographic.
• To explore the impact of attending support on trainee voting behavior.

Main Methods:

• Survey data from the 2020 American Academy of Otolaryngology Section for Residents and Fellows (AAO SRF) was analyzed.
• Voting practices, attitudes towards electoral participation, and perceived barriers were captured.
• Statistical analysis, including Wilcoxon rank-sum test, was used to assess differences.

Main Results:

• 84.6% of eligible trainees voted in the 2016 election, exceeding national averages but slightly below other medical specialties.
• Key barriers identified were lack of time and perceived lack of impact.
• Greater attending advocacy for voting was associated with higher trainee participation.

Conclusions:

• OHNS trainee voter participation is relatively high but can be improved.
• Training program culture and attending support are critical in mitigating barriers to electoral participation.
• Encouraging voting among trainees can foster greater civic engagement within the medical community.