Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Advice on YouTube: Unveiling Gaps, Emphasizing Inclusivity, and Striving for Comprehensive Guidance

Abstract

Background: As orthopaedic surgery remains a highly competitive specialty, YouTube has emerged as a major online resource for medical students seeking guidance for residency applications. The credibility, thoroughness, and representation of the advice provided in these videos warrant a critical analysis. Methods: A YouTube search was conducted, and the top 100 videos were screened. Seventeen of the videos met the evaluation criteria. Three authors independently assessed these videos for 23 significant residency application variables. Content creators' qualifications, viewership, sex, and racial representation were also evaluated. Discrepancies were resolved through joint review and consensus. Results: Of the 17 evaluated YouTube videos on orthopaedic surgery residency, research experience and the United States Medical Licensing Exam Step 1 score were the most discussed variables. Videos hosted by orthopaedic physicians received fewer views on average than those hosted by nonorthopaedics. Minority representation varied, with Asian-identifying creators receiving the highest average views. Male-hosted videos had greater viewership compared with female creators. Conclusion: YouTube videos on orthopaedic surgery residency focused on research experience, reflecting changes in National Resident Matching Program's application evaluation metrics. The ambiguity of advice on research type and underemphasis on other crucial factors, such as letters of recommendation and interview performance, suggest the need for more comprehensive guidance. Moreover, the videos' demographic disparity compared with the actual field indicates the need for more diverse representations among content creators. We recommend that orthopaedic organizations create tailored and comprehensive guidance for prospective applicants.