Factors associated with pharmacy residency matching: A scoping review

Introduction The increasing demand for pharmacy residency programs continues to outpace the supply. The mismatch between available pharmacy residency positions and the number of residency applicants leaves many interested and qualified candidates without a residency. The objective of this review is to describe available literature and factors associated with successful matching to a pharmacy residency program. Methods The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Protocols and Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was used to guide the identification and selection of articles. A search strategy was developed using the combination of medical subject headings (MeSH) and keywords from a review of titles and abstracts of known articles. Titles and abstracts were independently reviewed, and citation mapping was completed for all studies that met inclusion criteria. Results Studies assessing residency match rates were included and 28 studies met inclusion criteria. Of these studies, 16 analyzed data from pharmacy schools, with over half evaluating an intervention such as mock interviews or residency preparation courses. Most of these studies found an association between the intervention and higher match rates. Two studies surveyed residency program directors on desired traits of prospective candidates. Ten studies analyzed national data. A higher number of residency applications, a higher number of interviews completed or invitations received, publication of research abstracts, and higher grade point averages were associated with higher match rates. Pharmacy school characteristics with positive impacts on match rates included public institution, older age of the school, higher North American Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) pass rates, and affiliation with an academic medical center. Conclusion The studies described show the positive benefit of pharmacy residency preparatory activities and individual applicant factors, as well as pharmacy school characteristics on match rates. Most studies had limitations in study design and generalizability, and much of the data were heterogeneous.