Authors

Eric D Katz, Division of Emergency Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USAFollow
Lee Shockley, Department of Emergency Medicine, Denver Metro Health Center, Denver, CO, USAFollow
Lawrence Kass, Department of Emergency Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USAFollow
David Howes, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USAFollow
Janis P Tupesis, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USAFollow
Christopher Weaver, Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USAFollow
Osman R Sayan, Department of Emergency Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USAFollow
Victoria Hogan, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USAFollow
Jason Begue, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USAFollow
Diamond Vrocher, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USAFollow
Jackie Frazer, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USAFollow
Timothy Evans, Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA, USAFollow
Gene Hern, Department of Emergency Medicine, Highland General Hospital, Oakland, CA, USAFollow
Ralph Riviello, Department of Emergency Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USAFollow
Antonio Rivera, Division of Emergency Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USAFollow
Keith Kinoshita, Division of Emergency Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USAFollow
Edward Ferguson, Division of Emergency Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USAFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2005

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed and is published in BMC Medical Education Volume 5, 16 August 2005. The published version is available at DOI: 10.1186/1472-6920-5-30. Copyright © BioMed Central Ltd.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Previous trials have showed a 10-30% rate of inaccuracies on applications to individual residency programs. No studies have attempted to corroborate this on a national level. Attempts by residency programs to diminish the frequency of inaccuracies on applications have not been reported. We seek to clarify the national incidence of inaccuracies on applications to emergency medicine residency programs. METHODS: This is a multi-center, single-blinded, randomized, cohort study of all applicants from LCME accredited schools to involved EM residency programs. Applications were randomly selected to investigate claims of AOA election, advanced degrees and publications. Errors were reported to applicants' deans and the NRMP. RESULTS: Nine residencies reviewed 493 applications (28.6% of all applicants who applied to any EM program). 56 applications (11.4%, 95%CI 8.6-14.2%) contained at least one error. Excluding "benign" errors, 9.8% (95% CI 7.2-12.4%), contained at least one error. 41% (95% CI 35.0-47.0%) of all publications contained an error. All AOA membership claims were verified, but 13.7% (95%CI 4.4-23.1%) of claimed advanced degrees were inaccurate. Inter-rater reliability of evaluations was good. Investigators were reluctant to notify applicants' dean's offices and the NRMP. CONCLUSION: This is the largest study to date of accuracy on application for residency and the first such multi-centered trial. High rates of incorrect data were found on applications. This data will serve as a baseline for future years of the project, with emphasis on reporting inaccuracies and warning applicants of the project's goals.

PubMed ID

16105178

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