Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38216902›Full record

ArticleBMC medical education2024

Factors influencing the selection criteria of Saudi board orthopedic surgery applicants: a national survey of program directors.

Suhail S AlAssiri, Alwaleed A Alshahir, Sami I Al Eissa, Fahad H Al Helal, Faisal M Konbaz, Majed S Abaalkhail, Rayed M Al Jehani, Abdullah F Mohabbat, Khalid A AlSheikh

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical education, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. What traits do urology programs value in elective students? A survey of Canadian selection committee members.Canadian Urological Association journal = Journal de l'Association des urologues du Canada · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Suhail S AlAssiriOrthopedics Surgery Department, Ministry of the National Guard-Health affairs, King Abdulaziz Medical City, PO Box 22490, 11426, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Alwaleed A AlshahirOrthopedics Surgery Department, Ministry of the National Guard-Health affairs, King Abdulaziz Medical City, PO Box 22490, 11426, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A.Alshahir@hotmail.com.
Sami I Al EissaOrthopedics Surgery Department, Ministry of the National Guard-Health affairs, King Abdulaziz Medical City, PO Box 22490, 11426, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Fahad H Al HelalOrthopedics Surgery Department, Ministry of the National Guard-Health affairs, King Abdulaziz Medical City, PO Box 22490, 11426, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Faisal M KonbazKing Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Majed S AbaalkhailOrthopedics Surgery Department, Ministry of the National Guard-Health affairs, King Abdulaziz Medical City, PO Box 22490, 11426, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Rayed M Al JehaniOrthopedics Surgery Department, Ministry of the National Guard-Health affairs, King Abdulaziz Medical City, PO Box 22490, 11426, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah F MohabbatSpine Surgery Department, Neuroscience Centre, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of Health, Al Madina, Saudi Arabia.
Khalid A AlSheikhOrthopedics Surgery Department, Ministry of the National Guard-Health affairs, King Abdulaziz Medical City, PO Box 22490, 11426, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAnnually, medical students vie to secure a seat with an orthopedic residency program. This rigorous competition places orthopedic surgery as one of the most competitive specialties in the medical field. Although several international studies have been published regarding the factors that influence program directors when choosing their ideal applicant, the data for Saudi Arabia in that regard is absent.

methodsIn this cross-sectional study, we aimed to survey all orthopedic program directors regarding the factors that influence them when choosing their ideal orthopedic surgery applicant. A survey was sent to all program directors via email during the month of August 2022. A reminder was sent 2 weeks later to maximize the response rate. The survey was completed by 22 out of 36 orthopedic program directors, which gave us a response rate of 61.11%.

resultsIn this study, 22 orthopedic surgery program directors responded to our survey. When program directors were asked to rank the factors of residency selection criteria, the top ranked factors were good impression on interviews; prior experience in orthopedic surgery with, for example, electives; and performance on ethical questions during interviews, with means of 9.18, 8.95, and 8.82 out of 10, respectively. Furthermore, program directors preferred letters of recommendation from recommenders that they personally know, clinical experience such as electives taken at the program director's institution, and the quality of publications as the most important aspects of research. Most program directors (90.9%) relied on their residents' and fellows' opinions when selecting candidates, and 77.3% did not think gender has an influence on selection of applicants.

conclusionBy providing comprehensive data regarding the factors that influence and attract program directors of orthopedic surgery when choosing residency candidates. With the data provided by this study, applicants for orthopedic surgery have the advantage of early planning to build a strong application that may help persuade program directors to choose them.

Indexed as

Internship and ResidencyOrthopedic ProceduresCross-Sectional StudiesHumansPatient SelectionSaudi ArabiaSurveys and QuestionnairesEducationMedical studentsOrthopedicsProgram directorsResidency selectionSaudi Arabia

Identifiers

PMID38216902
PMCPMC10785545

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.