title: Analysis of an online match discussion board: improving the otolaryngology-head and neck surgery match.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  "The Match" has become the accepted selection process for graduate medical education. Otomatch.com has provided an online forum for Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) Match-related questions for over a decade. Herein, we aim to delineate the type of posts on Otomatch to better understand the perspective of medical students applying for OHNS residency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of an OHNS Match-related online forum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were contributors to an OHNS Match-related online forum. Posts on Otomatch between December 2001 and April 2014 were reviewed. The title of each thread and number of views were recorded for quantitative analysis. Each thread was organized into 1 of 6 major categories and 1 of 18 subcategories. National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) data were utilized for comparison.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 1921 threads corresponding to over 2 million page views. Over 40% of threads were related to questions about specific programs, and 27% were discussions about interviews. Views, a surrogate measure for popularity, reflected different trends. The majority of individuals viewed posts on interviews (42%), program-specific questions (20%), and how to rank programs (11%). There was an increase in viewership tracked with a rise in applicant numbers based on NRMP data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study provides an in-depth analysis of a popular discussion forum for medical students interested in the OHNS Match process. The most viewed posts are about interview dates and questions regarding specific programs. We provide suggestions to address unmet needs for medical students and potentially improve the Match process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Elliott D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Kozin
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Rosh K V
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sethi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Ashton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Aaron K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Remenschneider
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Justin S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Golub
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Emerick
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Stacey_Gray@meei.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Stacey T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D061108:Social Media; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: Internet; Match; education; otolaryngology; social media