Gender Differences in Self-Description: A Linguistic Analysis of Orthopedic Surgery Residency Application Personal Statements.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to assess differences in language characteristics in personal statements written by male and female applicants to an orthopedic surgery residency program. DESIGN: This is a blinded retrospective analysis of personal statements from all applicants to an orthopedic surgery residency training program during 1 application cycle. Language characteristics were analyzed using a linguistic analysis software. This software evaluated 19 variables, including word count, 4 summary language variables (analytical thinking, clout, authenticity, and emotional tone), and 14 additional word categories. SETTING: Our study took place at [institution]. PARTICIPANTS: All applications submitted during the 2018-2019 residency application cycle were analyzed. 889 applicants were included in the study based on exclusion criteria, which omitted the 5 applicants who ultimately matched at our institution, as well as non-US citizens. RESULTS: Word count was not statistically significant between groups. Amongst the summary language variables, authenticity was higher in female applicants (p = 0.0142). Of the selected word categories, males averaged a higher score in certainty (p = 0.0418), while females averaged higher scores in curiosity (p = 0.0102), perception (p = 0.0486), and attention (p = 0.0293). CONCLUSIONS: Subtle differences exist in the language characteristics of personal statements written by male and female applicants to orthopedic surgery residency. The implications of our findings would be strengthened by new data on specific language characteristics and communication skills most desired by orthopedic program directors. Lastly, as evaluation metrics for residency applications continue to change, personal statements may assume an even more important role.

Operating room traffic in total joint arthroplasty: Identifying patterns and training the team to keep the door shut.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections after joint arthroplasty are devastating complications and are influenced by patient, surgical, and operating room environmental factors. METHODS: In an effort to reduce the incidence of door openings (DOs) during total joint arthroplasty cases, this prospective observational study consisted of 3 phases. Phase 1 determined the baseline incidence of DOs, followed by installation of a mechanical door counter (phase 2). Finally, an educational seminar was presented to all personnel (phase 3) regarding the implications frequent DOs have on patient and surgical outcomes. RESULTS: The average openings per case (OPC) for each of the 3 phases were 33.5, 34.2, and 27.7, respectively. There was a 17% reduction in OPC between phases 1 and 3 (P= .02). There were no significant differences between knee and hip arthroplasty cases during the 3 phases (P= .21, P= .46, and P= .81, respectively). There was a strong correlation between length of surgery and OPC, with a Pearson coefficient of r = 0.87 during phase 3. To account for differences in average operative time between phases, data were normalized for the length of surgery with the ratio of door openings per minute determined (0.36, 0.34, and 0.32 for each phase, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We were able to show that simply monitoring door openings during joint arthroplasty was not effective in reducing the occurrences. However, after a novel educational seminar given to all personnel, we were able to significantly reduce the incidence of operating room door openings, reducing a potential risk factor for surgical site infections.