title: Factors related to attrition in surgery residency based on application data.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether variables in the surgery resident selection process will predict attrition or performance during residency training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university residency program.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 111 categorical surgery residents matched during a 10-year period (1991-2000).
  
  
  METHODS
  Satisfactory outcome included successful completion of training and the American Board of Surgery examinations on the first attempt. Participants with a satisfactory outcome were stratified into good or marginal performance based on adverse actions during residency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 111 residents studied, 28 (25.2%) had an unsatisfactory outcome; attrition occurred in 25 (22.5%). Univariate analysis identified the following variables as predictors of unsatisfactory outcome: age at entry older than 29 years (P = .005), female sex (P = .02), courses repeated (P = .01), "C" grades on transcript (P = .01), no participation in team sports (P = .02), and lack of superlative comments in the dean's letter (P = .03). The following variables were retained in the multivariate model: age older than 29 years (odds ratio [OR], 0.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02-0.47; P = .003), summary comments in the dean's letter (OR, 4.57; 95% CI, 2.00-10.43; P < .001), participation in team sports (OR, 4.96; 95% CI, 1.36-18.05; P = .02), and merit scholarship in medical school (OR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.08-0.78; P = .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attrition can be predicted from factors identified on residency applications, with nonacademic factors being more important. Among residents who completed the program, no predictors of performance were identified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9156, USA. rebekah.naylor@utsouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: Rebekah A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Naylor
authors.forename: Joan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Reisch
authors.forename: R James
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Valentine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D010560:Personnel Selection; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013332:Student Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*