Characteristics of anesthesia program that graduating medical students find important: A cross-sectional survey.

Background: Applying to residency programs and constructing a rank order list is a challenging process and is a vital task that fourth year medical students must undergo each year. The aim of our study was to identify common themes in what residency applicants are considering when applying to an anesthesiology program and compare them between male and female applicants.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to all 1447 medical students who applied to the Brown University Anesthesiology residency program for the 2022 National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). The survey consisted of 53 questions designed to assess the factors that candidates deem important when ranking a residency program highly. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to determine the item-factor assignment. Confirmatory analysis was done to test the associations between the average scores for each of the identified factors. Associations and average scores among male and female responders were explored.

Results: 922 medical students completed the survey with a response rate of 63.7 %. An exploratory factor analysis (n = 457) performed on a random split sample (RSS) revealed a 45-item, seven-factor structure consisting of the following themes: exposure, teaching quality, gender and racial diversity, financial considerations, work life balance, prestige, and living in the same area. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed for the seven-factor model on the second RSS (n = 465). The model demonstrated adequate fit (Comparative Fit Index, CFI = 0.90, root mean square error of approximation [RIMSEA] = 0.085). Post hoc modification significantly improved the model fit (CFI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.057).

Conclusion: Anesthesia applicants prioritize clinical exposure, teaching quality, diversity, and practical training factors like simulation and POCUS training. In addition, applicants also weigh financial considerations and work-life balance heavily in their ranking of anesthesia programs. Understanding these preferences can help anesthesia programs effectively market their programs to improve recruitment outcomes and to attract top applicants.