TY - JOUR
T1 - Preference Signaling and the Integrated Plastic Surgery Match
T2 - A National Survey Study
AU - Sergesketter, Amanda R.
AU - Song, Ethan
AU - Shammas, Ronnie L.
AU - Tian, William M.
AU - Eberlin, Kyle R.
AU - Ko, Jason H.
AU - Momoh, Adeyiza O.
AU - Snyder-Warwick, Alison
AU - Phillips, Brett T.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Association of Program Directors in Surgery
PY - 2024/5
Y1 - 2024/5
N2 - Objective: Rooted in economics market strategies, preference signaling was introduced to the Plastic Surgery Common Application (PSCA) in 2022 for integrated plastic surgery residency applicants. This study surveyed program and applicant experience with preference signaling and assessed how preference signals influenced likelihood of interview invitations. Design: Two online surveys were designed and distributed to all program directors and 2022-2023 applicants to integrated plastic surgery. Opinions regarding the utility of preference signaling were solicited, and the influence of preference signals on likelihood of interview offers was assessed. Setting: All integrated plastic surgery programs. Participants: All 88 program directors and 2022-2023 applicants to integrated plastic surgery. Results: A total of 45 programs and 99 applicants completed the survey (response rates, 54.2% and 34.2%, respectively). Overall, 79.6% of applicants and 68.9% of programs reported that preference signals were a useful addition to the application cycle. Programs reported that 41.4% of students who sent preference signals received interview offers, compared to 84.6% of home students, 64.8% of away rotators, and 7.1% of other applicants; overall, students who signaled were 5.8 times more likely to receive an interview offer compared to students who were not home students and did not rotate or signal. After multivariable adjustment, programs with higher Doximity rankings, numbers of away rotators, and numbers of integrated residents per year received more preference signals (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Applicants and programs report that preference signaling was a useful addition to the integrated plastic surgery application cycle. Sending preference signals resulted in a higher likelihood of interview offers among nonrotators. Preference signaling may be a useful tool to reduce congestion in the integrated plastic surgery application cycle.
AB - Objective: Rooted in economics market strategies, preference signaling was introduced to the Plastic Surgery Common Application (PSCA) in 2022 for integrated plastic surgery residency applicants. This study surveyed program and applicant experience with preference signaling and assessed how preference signals influenced likelihood of interview invitations. Design: Two online surveys were designed and distributed to all program directors and 2022-2023 applicants to integrated plastic surgery. Opinions regarding the utility of preference signaling were solicited, and the influence of preference signals on likelihood of interview offers was assessed. Setting: All integrated plastic surgery programs. Participants: All 88 program directors and 2022-2023 applicants to integrated plastic surgery. Results: A total of 45 programs and 99 applicants completed the survey (response rates, 54.2% and 34.2%, respectively). Overall, 79.6% of applicants and 68.9% of programs reported that preference signals were a useful addition to the application cycle. Programs reported that 41.4% of students who sent preference signals received interview offers, compared to 84.6% of home students, 64.8% of away rotators, and 7.1% of other applicants; overall, students who signaled were 5.8 times more likely to receive an interview offer compared to students who were not home students and did not rotate or signal. After multivariable adjustment, programs with higher Doximity rankings, numbers of away rotators, and numbers of integrated residents per year received more preference signals (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Applicants and programs report that preference signaling was a useful addition to the integrated plastic surgery application cycle. Sending preference signals resulted in a higher likelihood of interview offers among nonrotators. Preference signaling may be a useful tool to reduce congestion in the integrated plastic surgery application cycle.
KW - Match
KW - Plastic surgery
KW - Plastic surgery education
KW - Preference signaling
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jsurg.2024.01.011
DO - 10.1016/j.jsurg.2024.01.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 38553367
AN - SCOPUS:85189101252
SN - 1931-7204
VL - 81
SP - 662
EP - 670
JO - Journal of Surgical Education
JF - Journal of Surgical Education
IS - 5
ER -