title: How Competitive Is the Canadian Diagnostic Radiology Residency Match? Application and Matching Trends From 1991-2014.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study sought to evaluate application trends in Canadian diagnostic radiology residency programs and to assess the relative competitiveness of radiology as a specialty.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Canadian Residency Matching Service Reports from 1991-2014 for Canadian graduates were used to extract the total residency positions and radiology residency positions, number of applicants to all specialties and to radiology, number of first-choice radiology applicants, number of unmatched radiology positions, and number of positions and applicants to each specialty. Ratios were calculated: radiology positions to applicants and first-choice applicants, first-choice radiology applicants to applicants for all specialties, and training positions to applicants in each specialty. Data trends and correlation coefficients were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of radiology residency positions offered increased, with strong positive correlation (r = 0.91, P < .001), while the number of applicants increased with only a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.49, P = .03). Radiology was the most competitive in 1997, with a ratio of 0.32 positions/applicant. There was an increase of positions/applicant over time (decreasing competitiveness; r = 0.76, P < .001) but no change in positions/first-choice applicant (r = 0.11, P = .65). The highest percentage of applicants who ranked radiology as their first choice was in 2003 at 6.5% with a decrease in this percentage over time (r = -0.36, P = .13). Radiology is moderately competitive for positions/overall applicants and very competitive for positions/first-choice applicants compared to other specialties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of radiology residency positions has increased while the number of applicants has not grown commensurately. The match was most competitive in 1997, and decreased in subsequent years. Possible reasons include job market, reimbursement, and work environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Imaging, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Imaging, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Kaisra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Esmail
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Imaging, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hibbert
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Imaging, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: mmcinnes@toh.on.ca.
authors.forename: Matthew D F
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: McInnes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D002321:Career Choice; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Education; Postgraduate education; Residency training; Resident selection