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. 2024 Jun 27;24(1):699.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-05612-x.

Exploring the content of epilepsy fellowship program websites: an analysis of information available to applicants

Shayan Marsia  1   2 , Alishba Kamran  3 , Sayed Mustafa Mahmood Shah  4 , Rameez Ali Merchant  5 , Shan E Abbas  6
Affiliations

Exploring the content of epilepsy fellowship program websites: an analysis of information available to applicants

Shayan Marsia et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Background: Program websites are essential resources in the process of residency and fellowship application. We evaluated the information furnished on these resources by Epilepsy fellowship programs. The extent of information provided was compared across geographic zones, academic affiliation, and national ranking.

Methods: A list of Epilepsy fellowship programs was derived from the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA). Links to program websites were obtained directly from FREIDA or using Google's search engine. Online data was categorized to reflect program information, education, recruitment, compensation, epilepsy center-specific information, and social media presence. Data points under each category were collected to develop a standardized scoring system. The frequency of criterion present was compared across geographic zones, academic affiliation, and national ranking using parametric and non-parametric statistical tests. Significance was determined at a p-value ≤ 0.05 for all cases. The study utilized IBM SPSS version 28 and Python 3.11.3.

Results: We analyzed 80 Epilepsy fellowship programs. The most reported feature was the program director's name and email (100.0%). The least reported features included board pass rates (1.3%), preparatory boot camp (8.8%), and post-fellowship placements (11.3%). Programs were found to be well-represented on X (88.8%), Facebook (81.3%), and Instagram (71.3%). Most (85.0%) of the programs were searchable through Google. The scores for program information, education, recruitment, compensation, epilepsy center-specific information, and social media visibility did not significantly vary based on location, academic affiliation, or rank status.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that despite an online presence, there is much room for improvement in the content available to the applicant. To improve the Match process and attract a roster of well-informed fellows, Epilepsy fellowship programs should furnish program websites with up-to-date information relevant to program information, education, recruitment, compensation, and epilepsy center-specific information.

Keywords: Applicant resources; Epilepsy; Fellowship program; Medical education; Program evaluation; Website analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Number of criteria mentioned on programs’ websites based on geographical regions, ranking status, and program types
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Comparison of total scores for epilepsy fellowship programs across geographic regions. The boxplot illustrates the total scores for epilepsy fellowship programs across four geographic regions, distinguishing programs that are ranked among the top 50 US neurology and neurosurgery programs and unranked programs by color coding. The interquartile range (IQR), representing the range from the first quartile (25th percentile) to the third quartile (75th percentile), is depicted by the box, with the median value (50th percentile) denoted by the center line. Whiskers extend from the minimum to the maximum values, excluding any outliers, which are identified by rhombi. Outliers are defined as points falling more than 1.5 times the IQR above the third quartile or below the first quartile
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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