How Informed are Visiting Medical Students? A Content Analysis of Online Information Regarding Plastic Surgery Away...

Given the importance of away rotations for students to learn about programs through direct experience and for programs to evaluate applicants, this study aims to characterize plastic surgery residency program website and VSLO content for away rotation information.

All website and VSLO plastic surgery away rotation listings were assessed for information regarding the rotation application process, logistics, and details. Chi-Squared and Fisher's Exact testing were used to compare comprehensibility by program characteristics including the residency model, program size, age, amount of funding, Doximity ranking, and number of Instagram posts and followers. McNemar testing was used to compare program information between websites and VSLO.

About 104 residency programs were identified, with 85.6% listing information on their websites and 76.0% on VSLO. Information regarding rotation applications, logistics, and details, is listed on 87.6, 85.4%, and 71.9% of websites and 100.0%, 100.0%, and 68.4% of VSLO pages. VSLO had significantly more information on the application process and rotation logistics than program websites (p ≤ 0.004), while program websites had more rotation descriptions (p = 0.003), information on call schedules (p = 0.011), presentations (p = 0.036), and simulation opportunities (p = 0.008). Independent programs were significantly less likely to provide online information on their rotations (p < 0.001).

While most programs included information about their away rotations on websites or VSLO, the degree and content of this information is highly variable by program and between platforms. Improving the comprehensibility, accessibility, and consistency of online plastic surgery away rotation listings will benefit students and programs in better matching applicants to well-fitting programs.