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. 2020 Sep 29;8(10):e3247.
doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000003247. eCollection 2020 Oct.

Webinar during COVID-19 Improves Knowledge of Changes to the Plastic Surgery Residency Application Process

Arman T Serebrakian  1 , Ricardo Ortiz  1 , Joani M Christensen  1 , Brent B Pickrell  1 , Timothy J Irwin  1 , Sarah J Karinja  1 , Justin M Broyles  2 , Eric C Liao  3 , Kyle R Eberlin  3 , Lydia A Helliwell  2
Affiliations

Webinar during COVID-19 Improves Knowledge of Changes to the Plastic Surgery Residency Application Process

Arman T Serebrakian et al. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. .

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted residency application process for all specialties, including plastic surgery residency. Almost all plastic surgery residency programs have suspended visiting sub-internship rotations. This study quantifies the impact of a webinar through an analysis of poll questions and a post-webinar survey sent to all registered participants.

Methods: A dedicated webinar was organized and held by the Harvard Plastic Surgery Residency Training Program. All attendees were asked several poll questions during the webinar. The 192 participants were also sent a post-webinar survey.

Results: The response rate was 68.2% (n = 131). Respondents were more confident about matching into a plastic surgery residency program at the end of the webinar compared with before the webinar (P < 0.001). Respondents who did not have a plastic surgery residency program at their home institution were less confident at the start of the webinar (P = 0.009). In addition, respondents who had not taken time off for research or for other endeavors during or after medical school were less confident about their chances to match at the start of the webinar (P = 0.034).

Conclusions: An online webinar program increased confidence levels of medical students interested in applying for residency positions in plastic surgery. Residency programs should consider webinars as a method to inform and assist medical students during the upcoming application season.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors have no financial or personal relationships to disclose in relation to the content of this article. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Bar diagram showing the participants’ responses on completing a clinical rotation on a plastic surgery service before attending the webinar. Most participants had not completed a rotation.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Bar diagram displaying participants’ confidence about matching into a plastic surgery residency program, which was significantly improved by the end of the webinar.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Bar diagram showing the data on how participants get to know about the webinar. The participants were most likely to hear about the webinar from Instagram, a Google document circulated among applicants, or from their medical school.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Bar Diagram depicting the respondents’ concerns. Participants were most concerned about a lack of sub-internships during the COVID-19 pandemic, methods for expressing interest in plastic surgery residency programs, and virtual interviews.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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