Use of social media resources by applicants during the residency selection process.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The attitudes of residency applicants regarding social media resources and how these resources affect their decisions during residency selection have not been well-studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of electronic and social media resources by residency applicants and the impact of these resources on their residency selection decisions. METHODS: Interviewees at our anesthesiology residency program during the 2012-2013 interview cycle were surveyed anonymously regarding their use of electronic and social media resources. RESULTS: On a scale from 1 to 5 (1=not at all important, 5=very important), social media resources were given a ranking of 3 (2-3) (median [25%-75%]) for importance for gathering residency program information. Our Facebook page was accessed by 47% of respondents. Thirty-seven percent did so before applying and 58% did so after applying but before interviewing. The Facebook page was useful to 12% when deciding whether to apply to our program, 25% when deciding whether to interview, and 29% when deciding where to rank our program on their rank order list. Participants who responded that our Facebook page was useful in three domains (applying, interviewing, and ranking) credited it for increasing the likelihood that they applied to, interviewed at, and preferentially ranked our program. CONCLUSIONS: Social media resources serve a valuable role for residency applicants. Applicants who accessed our program's Facebook page reported that it made them more likely to apply to our program, interview at our program, and that it increased the position of our program on their rank order lists.