Trends in Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Applications in the Year After Abortion Access Changes

State-specific abortion restrictions currently affect the training of approximately 44% of obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) residents in the US. Examination of where future trainees apply for residency is important. To assess changes in the percentage of applicants to OBGYN residency programs by st...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	JAMA network open 2024-02, Vol.7 (2), p.e2355017-e2355017
Main Authors:	Hammoud, Maya M, Morgan, Helen K, George, Karen, Ollendorff, Arthur T, Dalrymple, John L, Dunleavy, Dana, Zhu, Min, Banks, Erika, Akingbola, Bukky Ajagbe, Connolly, AnnaMarie
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Abortion, Induced Cross-Sectional Studies Female Gynecology Humans Internship and Residency Male Medical Education Obstetrics Online Only Original Investigation Pregnancy
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Summary:	State-specific abortion restrictions currently affect the training of approximately 44% of obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) residents in the US. Examination of where future trainees apply for residency is important. To assess changes in the percentage of applicants to OBGYN residency programs by state based on abortion restrictions in place after the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization (hereafter, Dobbs v Jackson) US Supreme Court decision and examine whether applicants' preference for programs, as suggested by the distribution of application signals that express higher interest, was associated with abortion bans. This serial cross-sectional study used anonymized data for all applicants to OBGYN residency programs in the US during September and October from 2019 to 2023. Data were obtained from the Association of American Medical Colleges Electronic Residency Application Service. Applications and program preference signals sent to OBGYN residency programs, analyzed by applicants' self-reported demographics. The primary outcome was differences in the percentage of unique applicants to OBGYN residency programs from 2019 to 2023, with programs categorized by state-based abortion restrictions after the Dobbs v Jackson decision. Secondary outcomes included the distribution of program signals by state abortion ban status. A total of 2463 applicants (2104 [85.4%] women) who applied to OBGYN programs for the 2023 residency match cycle were the focal sample of this study. While overall applicant numbers remained stable between 2019 and 2023, the number of applicants differed significantly by state abortion ban status in the 2022 (F2,1087 = 10.82; P
ISSN:	2574-3805