Demographic variations and temporal trends in hospice and palliative care fellowship matches in the United States

Abstract This study examines trends in application and match rates for the United States Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship Match, focusing on demographic variations, competitiveness, and match success across applicant types. This retrospective study analyzed data from the National Resident Matc...

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Main Authors: Aman Goyal, Samuel L. Flesner, Urooj Shamim, Sonia Hurjkaliani, Priya Goyal, Mohamed Daoud, Amir Humza Sohail
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02332-0
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author Aman Goyal
Samuel L. Flesner
Urooj Shamim
Sonia Hurjkaliani
Priya Goyal
Mohamed Daoud
Amir Humza Sohail
author_facet Aman Goyal
Samuel L. Flesner
Urooj Shamim
Sonia Hurjkaliani
Priya Goyal
Mohamed Daoud
Amir Humza Sohail
author_sort Aman Goyal
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study examines trends in application and match rates for the United States Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship Match, focusing on demographic variations, competitiveness, and match success across applicant types. This retrospective study analyzed data from the National Resident Matching Program for Hospice and Palliative Care fellowships from 2016 to 2024, including applicant demographics and match outcomes. Chi-square tests were used to assess differences and temporal trends were evaluated with Mann–Kendall tests, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Our results were that the number of fellowship programs increased from 122 in 2016 to 185 in 2024 (51.6% increase), with positions rising from 280 to 451 (61.1% increase). Applicants grew by 75.2%, from 259 to 454. US MDs had significantly higher match rates than non-US MDs (86.1% vs. 79.8%, p < 0.001). Female applicants were significantly overrepresented in Hospice and Palliative Care fellowships compared to all fellowships (64.9% vs. 47.0%, p < 0.001), while males were underrepresented (33.4% vs. 51.4%, p < 0.001). A higher proportion of matched applicants were from rural areas compared to all fellowships (16.0% vs. 13.1%, p = 0.040). In conclusion, the number of Hospice and Palliative Care fellowship programs, positions, and applicants has increased. Female applicants, compared to males, and White applicants, relative to their representation in all fellowships, accounted for a larger proportion of applications and had higher match rates. Heterosexual applicants were less likely to pursue Hospice and Palliative Care fellowships compared to all specialties.
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spelling doaj-art-df9160bb068549dfbd4959f73ec4eda02025-08-20T04:02:45ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-011511810.1038/s41598-025-02332-0Demographic variations and temporal trends in hospice and palliative care fellowship matches in the United StatesAman Goyal0Samuel L. Flesner1Urooj Shamim2Sonia Hurjkaliani3Priya Goyal4Mohamed Daoud5Amir Humza Sohail6Department of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic FoundationUniversity of New Mexico School of MedicineDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Internal Medicine, Dow University of Health SciencesDepartment of Internal Medicine, Dayanand Medical College and HospitalDepartment of Internal Medicine, Bogomolets National Medical UniversityDepartment of Surgical Oncology, University of New Mexico Health SciencesAbstract This study examines trends in application and match rates for the United States Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship Match, focusing on demographic variations, competitiveness, and match success across applicant types. This retrospective study analyzed data from the National Resident Matching Program for Hospice and Palliative Care fellowships from 2016 to 2024, including applicant demographics and match outcomes. Chi-square tests were used to assess differences and temporal trends were evaluated with Mann–Kendall tests, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Our results were that the number of fellowship programs increased from 122 in 2016 to 185 in 2024 (51.6% increase), with positions rising from 280 to 451 (61.1% increase). Applicants grew by 75.2%, from 259 to 454. US MDs had significantly higher match rates than non-US MDs (86.1% vs. 79.8%, p < 0.001). Female applicants were significantly overrepresented in Hospice and Palliative Care fellowships compared to all fellowships (64.9% vs. 47.0%, p < 0.001), while males were underrepresented (33.4% vs. 51.4%, p < 0.001). A higher proportion of matched applicants were from rural areas compared to all fellowships (16.0% vs. 13.1%, p = 0.040). In conclusion, the number of Hospice and Palliative Care fellowship programs, positions, and applicants has increased. Female applicants, compared to males, and White applicants, relative to their representation in all fellowships, accounted for a larger proportion of applications and had higher match rates. Heterosexual applicants were less likely to pursue Hospice and Palliative Care fellowships compared to all specialties.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02332-0TrendsHospicePalliative careHospiceFellowshipEpidemiology
spellingShingle Aman Goyal
Samuel L. Flesner
Urooj Shamim
Sonia Hurjkaliani
Priya Goyal
Mohamed Daoud
Amir Humza Sohail
Demographic variations and temporal trends in hospice and palliative care fellowship matches in the United States
Scientific Reports
Trends
Hospice
Palliative care
Hospice
Fellowship
Epidemiology
title Demographic variations and temporal trends in hospice and palliative care fellowship matches in the United States
title_full Demographic variations and temporal trends in hospice and palliative care fellowship matches in the United States
title_fullStr Demographic variations and temporal trends in hospice and palliative care fellowship matches in the United States
title_full_unstemmed Demographic variations and temporal trends in hospice and palliative care fellowship matches in the United States
title_short Demographic variations and temporal trends in hospice and palliative care fellowship matches in the United States
title_sort demographic variations and temporal trends in hospice and palliative care fellowship matches in the united states
topic Trends
Hospice
Palliative care
Hospice
Fellowship
Epidemiology
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02332-0
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