Medical student selection of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery as a specialty: influences and attitudes.
OBJECTIVE
1) To determine factors students perceive as influential in decision to pursue otolaryngology; 2) to determine perception of importance of factors used for resident selection and individual student commitment to the match; and 3) to identify exposure to various subspecialties within otolaryngology.


METHODS
Population survey.


METHODS
A survey was administered to students applying for otolaryngology between 2000 and 2003 at a single institution.


RESULTS
Ninety-six students were interviewed. Seventy-eight percent believed that the main factor influencing their decision to pursue otolaryngology was their exposure to the residents. Board scores and one-on-one interviews were important factors in selection of interviewees and ranking process. Interestingly, over 20% of students believed that the match should not be early because they wanted more time to commit to ENT.


CONCLUSIONS
These data underscore the importance that residents have in directing future students to our specialty. Results of the match survey may indicate an attrition rate within residency programs that may be avoided if ENT were part of the "regular" match.
McCaffrey
Judith Czaja
JC
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. mccaffrj@moffitt.usf.edu
D001290:Attitude; D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013337:Students, Medical