Structure and evaluation of preventive medicine residency programs’ websites: A cross sectional analysis

• Published in: Annals of medicine and surgery Vol. 84; p. 104871
• Main Authors: Khan, Maaz H., Salman, Ariba, Yasmin, Farah, Sehar, Alina, Abbasi, Maham, Memon, Shehzeen F., Asghar, Muhammad Sohaib, Fadelallah Eljack, Mohammed Mahmmoud, Ullah, Kaleem, Tahir, Muhammad Junaid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Career choice; Cross-sectional Study; Education; Graduate medical education; Preventive medicine; Residency websites; Website content; Preventive medicine; Residency websites; Website content; Career choice; Education; Graduate medical education
• ISSN: 2049-0801; 2049-0801
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104871

The goal of this study was to analyze the content availability and accessibility of preventive medicine residency program websites. In COVID-related travel restrictions, the information provided on program websites has become increasingly crucial for residency applicants. A cross-sectional study was conducted by extracting the list of preventive medicine residency programs on the Fellowship and Residency Electronic and Interactive Database (FRIEDA). A 40-point criterion was used for the quality evaluation of residency programs. The study was conducted and analyzed in 2021. 82 preventive medicine residency programs were identified, and listed on FRIEDA, out of which 65 program websites were accessible. The median number of 40-point criteria met by the preventive medicine residency website was 25. The criteria fulfilled by the greatest number of program websites was research opportunity/facilities (94%). The majority of the preventive medicine residency program websites were not up to the mark regarding accessibility and quality. An updated preventive medicine residency program website is essential for the applicants. Programs with relevant and precise information on their websites have higher chances of attracting potential candidates and better chances of finding the match between applicants and programs. •Preventive medicine residency programs train physicians competent in public health, epidemiology, population health, and clinical medicine.•The majority of the preventive medicine residency program websites were not up to the mark regarding accessibility and quality.•There are no previous study on the accessibility and content of preventive medicine residency program websites.