Open AccessInformation scarcity among otolaryngology applicants: A review of the largest database of programs
Author(s) -
Roychowdhury Prithwijit,
Wu Matthew James,
Kozin Elliott Davin,
Remenschneider Aaron Kyle,
Gray Stacey Tutt
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2378-8038
DOI - 10.1002/lio2.739
Subject(s) - database , computer science , otorhinolaryngology , paragraph , scarcity , medical education , medicine , world wide web , psychiatry , economics , microeconomics
Objective Otolaryngology residency applicants face challenges finding accurate information about training programs. Social media platforms are not verified, and official training program websites are not standardized. Currently, the American Medical Association's Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA) is the most comprehensive sanctioned and verified otolaryngology residency program database. However, the exact amount of information shared by individual programs included is not presently known. Methods Herein, we analyzed the available data on all 124 otolaryngology residency programs in FREIDA to assess the completeness of the database. Results While every program listed an address, contact email, and the name of the program director, more than half of programs ( n = 65, 52.4%) did not provide additional information. Most programs (70.2%) did not include a one‐paragraph program description. Conclusion Our findings suggest that while FREIDA is the only sanctioned online database for residency programs, it is inadequately populated with detailed program information. Level of Evidence N/A