Background: Digital communication and use of the internet and social media (e.g., Facebook) sites are becoming a common means of communication between applicants and residency programs.
Objectives: The objective of our study was to determine the preferred means of residency communication and the value to applicants of other residency media such as a residency website and Facebook.
Methods: We surveyed applicants who interviewed at the Regions Hospital Emergency Medicine Residency Program during the 2009–2010 academic cycle. An anonymous and voluntary survey was included in each applicant’s interview packet. The five-question survey asked the applicant to rank preferences for communication between the program and applicant during the interview season and to rank preferences of receiving information about the program from sources such as an internet website and Facebook page.
Results: Sixty-two of 103 applicants responded to the survey. Of these, 68% (42/62) preferred to receive program information via e-mail, followed by 26% (16/62) preferring the website, and 3% (2/62) preferring surface mail. If a program had questions about an applicant’s file, 90% (56/62) preferred contact by e-mail, and 10% (6/62) preferred a phone call (preferably by cell phone). For changes or updates about the residency program, 95% (59/62) of applicants preferred receiving this information via e-mail, followed by surface mail (29% or 18/62) and the website (27% or 17/62) as second choices. Eighty-five percent (51/60) of respondents reported that they had a Facebook account, although few used this as a resource.
Conclusion: E-mail is the most preferred method of communication of applicants. The residency program website is also of value for applicants looking for information about the program. Many applicants have Facebook accounts, but few use this as a method to communicate with residencies.