Effect of COVID-19 on Geographic Distribution of the Integrated Plastic Surgery Match

Background:. COVID-19 had significant impact on the 2021 integrated plastic surgery match, most notably through cancellation of away rotations and virtual interviews. While previous studies have analyzed geographic outcomes of the match in prior years, the effects of COVID-19 have not been determine...

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Main Authors: Anjali Om, BA, Albert Losken, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer 2021-06-01
Series:Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open
Online Access:http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000003676
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spelling doaj-f3e062f199154eb7a3d5d0d3cc6827dc2021-06-28T03:13:36ZengWolters KluwerPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open2169-75742021-06-0196e367610.1097/GOX.0000000000003676202106000-00047Effect of COVID-19 on Geographic Distribution of the Integrated Plastic Surgery MatchAnjali Om, BA0Albert Losken, MD1From the Emory University School of Medicine. Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Atlanta, Ga.From the Emory University School of Medicine. Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Atlanta, Ga.Background:. COVID-19 had significant impact on the 2021 integrated plastic surgery match, most notably through cancellation of away rotations and virtual interviews. While previous studies have analyzed geographic outcomes of the match in prior years, the effects of COVID-19 have not been determined. This study aims to contribute 2021 match data to determine the effects of COVID-19 on the geographic distribution of the integrated plastic surgery match. Methods:. Official match results for each program were populated by searching official program institutional websites and social media pages. Trainees’ home medical institutions and current integrated plastic surgery residency programs were noted. Statistical analysis compared geographic distribution in COVID-19 affected (2021) and non-COVID-19 affected (2015-2020) match years. Results:. Of 85 integrated plastic surgery programs, 80% (n = 68) of programs and 1,015 matched trainees were included in this study. The average percentage of institutional matches in COVID-19-affected match year was 25.12%, compared to 16.67% for non-COVID-19-affected match years (p = 0.0012). The odds ratio of matching at a home institution in 2021 compared to prior years was 1.68 (95% CI 1.11-2.53). Conclusions:. Our study is consistent with previous studies that demonstrate strong match preferences for affiliated medical students but also adds that this trend may be amplified in the post-COVID-19 era. While multiple factors may be involved in geographic distributions of residency match outcomes, the results of this study suggest that COVID-19 restrictions on travel and exposure to outside programs may have contributed to an even higher percentage of matches within the same institution.http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000003676
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Anjali Om, BA
Albert Losken, MD
spellingShingle Anjali Om, BA
Albert Losken, MD
Effect of COVID-19 on Geographic Distribution of the Integrated Plastic Surgery Match
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open
author_facet Anjali Om, BA
Albert Losken, MD
author_sort Anjali Om, BA
title Effect of COVID-19 on Geographic Distribution of the Integrated Plastic Surgery Match
title_short Effect of COVID-19 on Geographic Distribution of the Integrated Plastic Surgery Match
title_full Effect of COVID-19 on Geographic Distribution of the Integrated Plastic Surgery Match
title_fullStr Effect of COVID-19 on Geographic Distribution of the Integrated Plastic Surgery Match
title_full_unstemmed Effect of COVID-19 on Geographic Distribution of the Integrated Plastic Surgery Match
title_sort effect of covid-19 on geographic distribution of the integrated plastic surgery match
publisher Wolters Kluwer
series Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open
issn 2169-7574
publishDate 2021-06-01
description Background:. COVID-19 had significant impact on the 2021 integrated plastic surgery match, most notably through cancellation of away rotations and virtual interviews. While previous studies have analyzed geographic outcomes of the match in prior years, the effects of COVID-19 have not been determined. This study aims to contribute 2021 match data to determine the effects of COVID-19 on the geographic distribution of the integrated plastic surgery match. Methods:. Official match results for each program were populated by searching official program institutional websites and social media pages. Trainees’ home medical institutions and current integrated plastic surgery residency programs were noted. Statistical analysis compared geographic distribution in COVID-19 affected (2021) and non-COVID-19 affected (2015-2020) match years. Results:. Of 85 integrated plastic surgery programs, 80% (n = 68) of programs and 1,015 matched trainees were included in this study. The average percentage of institutional matches in COVID-19-affected match year was 25.12%, compared to 16.67% for non-COVID-19-affected match years (p = 0.0012). The odds ratio of matching at a home institution in 2021 compared to prior years was 1.68 (95% CI 1.11-2.53). Conclusions:. Our study is consistent with previous studies that demonstrate strong match preferences for affiliated medical students but also adds that this trend may be amplified in the post-COVID-19 era. While multiple factors may be involved in geographic distributions of residency match outcomes, the results of this study suggest that COVID-19 restrictions on travel and exposure to outside programs may have contributed to an even higher percentage of matches within the same institution.
url http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000003676
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