Mp17-11 the Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Cost of the Urology Application Process

You have accessJournal of UrologyEducation Research I (MP17)1 May 2024MP17-11 THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE COST OF THE UROLOGY APPLICATION PROCESS Eliyas Asfaw, Monica Van Til, Efe Chantal Ghanney Simons, Angela P. Mihalic, and Keow Mei Goh Eliyas AsfawEliyas Asfaw , Monica Van TilMonica Van Til , Efe Chantal Ghanney SimonsEfe Chantal Ghanney Simons , Angela P. MihalicAngela P. Mihalic , and Keow Mei GohKeow Mei Goh View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/01.JU.0001008628.15460.84.11AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess trends in urology applicant-reported costs using the Texas Seeking Transparency in Application to Residency (STAR) Database, looking at the impact of virtual interviews (VI) and the loss of away rotations in 2020. Due to the Covid pandemic, the Society of Academic Urologists (SAU) recommended no away rotations and VI for the 2020-21 application cycle, unless the applicant did not have a home urology program. Away rotations resumed in the 2021-22 cycle. METHODS: Self-reported Texas STAR survey data was reviewed from 2019 through 2023. The survey for this database is sent by the Dean's Office of allopathic and osteopathic med schools to med students in their fourth year after the match. Outcomes included median total cost (mTC), interview costs, other costs, application fees, the number of interviews offered and matching data. Simple linear regression was used to identify novel predictors of cost and assess the correlation between cost and interview offers. RESULTS: A total of 522 number of urology residency applicants completed the survey during from 2019-23. The mTC are shown in Figure 1. The change to VI and the absence of in-person away rotations (AR) in 2020-21 cycle resulted in a marked drop in mTC. The significant drivers for mTC were associated with number of away rotations number of applications, and number of interviews offered (Table 1). The institution of SAU restrictions resulted in 79% in reduction in mTC from 2020-21. Each incremental away rotations is associated increased cost of $1490 and the number of away rotations done is correlated with matching (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Change to VI and absence of AR significantly dropped mTC in 2021. The return of AR and maintenance of virtual interviews post pandemic allowed mTC to remain 39% less than immediately prior to the COVID 19 pandemic. The importance of AR in matching and the costs associated raises equity concerns, particularly for medical students coming from institutions without a home urology program. Download PPT Source of Funding: None © 2024 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 211Issue 5SMay 2024Page: e294 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2024 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.Metrics Author Information Eliyas Asfaw More articles by this author Monica Van Til More articles by this author Efe Chantal Ghanney Simons More articles by this author Angela P. Mihalic More articles by this author Keow Mei Goh More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...