The ideal applicant to emergency medicine residency programs in Saudi Arabia; Program directors’ view

Abstract

Objective: Emergency medicine (EM) is considered a competitive specialty worldwide with an acceptance rate of 57% in Canada, but it is even more competitive in Saudi Arabia with 18.7% acceptance. Factors that may influenced the applicant’s acceptance into residency programs included letters of recommendation, interview performance, research experience, and gender. This study aims to determine the factors playing a role in applicants matching to EM residency programs in Saudi Arabia from the viewpoint of program directors. Methods: A pilot study was done using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to EM residency program directors (PDs) in Saudi Arabia during the period of 16-21 November 2021. The data were analyzed using SPSS, and all ethical considerations were observed. Results: Twenty-seven PDs participated in the study, 19 (70.4%) were male, and most were former PDs (59.3%). The most crucial aspect in the applicant’s acceptance was the excellent impression in the interview (4.00 ± 1.00). The most crucial aspect of recommendation letters was a recommendation from a program director (29.6%). In addition, total duration of electives in EM (40.7%) was important, quality in EM research (29.6%) played a critical role, and professionalism (29.6%) was the factor sought during the interview. The PD’s gender or status or the region of the program did not significantly affect the preference of the applicant’s gender. Conclusion: For those considering EM residency programs in Saudi Arabia, the chance of getting accepted can be increased by getting a recommendation from a program director, increasing the duration of electives in EM, focusing on the research quality, and showing professionalism during the interview.