Related Experiment Videos
Factors influencing program selection among family practice residents
Journal of Medical Education
|July 1, 1983
Summary
Family practice residents consider nine key factors when ranking residency programs. Demographic differences like sex, age, race, and region influence these residency selection criteria.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Family Medicine
Background:
- Selecting a residency program is a critical decision for medical graduates.
- Understanding the factors influencing residency program selection is vital for program directors and applicants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and analyze the factors family practice residents use when ranking residency programs.
- To investigate demographic variations in these selection criteria.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire was distributed to 1,810 first-year family practice residents participating in the 1981 matching program.
- Factor analysis was used to identify underlying factors from questionnaire responses.
- Multivariate analyses of variance examined demographic differences.
Main Results:
- Nine factors, explaining 59.4% of the variance, were identified as important for residency program ranking.
- Reliability of the questionnaire was estimated at .82.
- Significant differences in perceived importance of factors were observed based on sex, age, race, and geographical region.
Conclusions:
- Resident program selection is influenced by a multidimensional set of factors.
- Demographic characteristics play a role in shaping resident preferences for residency programs.