Do ABFM board pass rates or additional curriculum activities affect match rates for family medicine residency programs?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: While standard characteristics, such as location and size of family medicine residency programs, have been found to be significantly associated with initial Match rates, the association of characteristics potentially related to quality or non-Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) required curricular activities (NRCA) with initial Match rates has not been previously studied. The aim of this study is to examine the association between initial program Match rates and previously uninvestigated measures of potential quality and curriculum.

METHODS: Using information from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Medical Association's (AMA) FRIEDA Online® database, and National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), program-specific information was obtained. Five-year aggregate initial Match rates and American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) board pass rates were calculated. The relationship between program quality characteristics, such as accreditation cycle length, ABFM examination pass rate, and participation in NRCA (ie, specialized tracks, Preparing the Personal Physician for Practice (P4) initiative, integrative or alternative medicine curriculum, and opportunities for additional training through international experiences or training beyond accredited length), and initial program Match rates were analyzed.

RESULTS: Fifty-two percent of residency programs have ABFM board pass rates ? 90%. The initial Match rate for programs was significantly associated with regional location and program size. No significant difference in initial Match rates was found between programs with board pass rates ? or < 90% or those with reported additional curricula.

CONCLUSIONS: The selected measures of program quality and reported non-ACGME required curricular activities, as listed in the AMA FRIEDA Online® database, are not associated with initial Match rates.