Display options
Cite
Hern HG, Johnson B, Alter HJ, et al. Asking for a commitment: violations during the 2007 match and the effect on applicant rank lists. West J Emerg Med. 2015;16(2):331-5doi: 10.5811/westjem.2015.1.24462.
Hern, H. G., Johnson, B., Alter, H. J., Wills, C. P., Snoey, E. R., & Simon, B. C. (2015). Asking for a commitment: violations during the 2007 match and the effect on applicant rank lists. The western journal of emergency medicine, 16(2), 331-5. https://doi.org/10.5811/westjem.2015.1.24462
Hern, H Gene, et al. "Asking for a commitment: violations during the 2007 match and the effect on applicant rank lists." The western journal of emergency medicine vol. 16,2 (2015): 331-5. doi: https://doi.org/10.5811/westjem.2015.1.24462
Hern HG, Johnson B, Alter HJ, Wills CP, Snoey ER, Simon BC. Asking for a commitment: violations during the 2007 match and the effect on applicant rank lists. West J Emerg Med. 2015 Mar;16(2):331-5. doi: 10.5811/westjem.2015.1.24462. Epub 2015 Feb 25. PMID: 25834683; PMCID: PMC4380392.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

West J Emerg Med. 2015 Mar;16(2):331-5. doi: 10.5811/westjem.2015.1.24462. Epub 2015 Feb 25.

Asking for a commitment: violations during the 2007 match and the effect on applicant rank lists.

The western journal of emergency medicine

H Gene Hern, Brian Johnson, Harrison J Alter, Charlotte P Wills, Eric R Snoey, Barry C Simon

Affiliations

  1. Alameda Health System - Highland Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Oakland, California.

PMID: 25834683 PMCID: PMC4380392 DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2015.1.24462

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Applicants to residency face a number of difficult questions during the interview process, one of which is when a program asks for a commitment to rank the program highly. The regulations governing the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) match explicitly forbid any residency programs asking for a commitment.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of applicants from U.S. medical schools to five specialties during the 2006-2007 interview season using the Electronic Residency Application Service of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Applicants were asked to recall being asked to provide any sort of commitment (verbal or otherwise) to rank a program highly. Surveys were sent after rank lists were submitted, but before match day. We analyzed data using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

RESULTS: There were 7,028 unique responses out of 11,983 surveys sent for a response rate of 58.6%. Of those who identified their specialty (emergency medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology [OBGYN], general surgery and orthopedics), there were 6,303 unique responders. Overall 19.6% (1380/7028) of all respondents were asked to commit to a program. Orthopedics had the highest overall prevalence at 28.9% (372/474), followed by OBGYN (23.7%; 180/759), general surgery (21.7%; 190/876), internal medicine (18.3%; 601/3278), and finally, emergency medicine (15.4%; 141/916). Of those responding, 38.4% stated such questions made them less likely to rank the program.

CONCLUSION: Applicants to residencies are being asked questions expressly forbidden by the NRMP. Among the five specialties surveyed, orthopedics and OBGYN had the highest incidence of this violation. Asking for a commitment makes applicants less likely to rank a program highly.

References

  1. Curr Surg. 2000 Sep 1;57(5):460-465 - PubMed
  2. JAMA. 2003 Feb 19;289(7):909-12 - PubMed
  3. Acad Med. 2013 Aug;88(8):1116-21 - PubMed
  4. Fam Med. 2000 Apr;32(4):258-60 - PubMed
  5. Acad Emerg Med. 2009 Jun;16(6):550-7 - PubMed
  6. Am J Surg. 1999 Mar;177(3):237-9 - PubMed
  7. JAMA. 2009 Sep 23;302(12):1266-7 - PubMed
  8. Pediatrics. 2007 Oct;120(4):e826-31 - PubMed

MeSH terms

Publication Types