Abstract* Background Indonesia is one of the most populous countries and has a low doctor-to-population ratio. Few universities in Indonesia offer cardiology residency programs, resulting in a limited residency slots each year. Prolonged training durations further restrict the influx of new cardiologists and strain program resources. Timely graduation is essential for maintaining efficiency in these programs. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the length of the cardiology residency program. Methods This retrospective study utilized university admission data. The participants comprised medical doctors who completed a university-based residency at Padjadjaran University from 2010 to 2015. A specialized dataset was employed to record all pertinent information. Results The study included 66 residents, of whom 34 (51.5%) were male, with a median age of 29 years (24–37 years). Only eight residents (12.1%) submitted their final thesis on time, and 20 (30.3%) graduated on time. Males were more prevalent among those who graduated on time (OR 3.033, p=0.048). The mean academic test score was higher in the timely graduate group, while the median psychology test score was lower. Additionally, there were no significant differences between the two groups regarding other factors. Similar results were observed when comparing the final thesis presentation groups. The median psychology test score was lower for those who completed their thesis in seven semesters p=0.001. Conclusion Timely graduation was more common among male residents with higher academic scores. Interestingly, lower psychology test scores were observed among those who graduated on time and those who presented their final thesis within the expected timeframe.
Martha et al. (Tue,) studied this question.