Online Transparency and Recruitment Utility of Oncologic Imaging Fellowship Websites in the USA and Canada: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Applicant-Relevant Information

Background: Fellowship websites are an important source of information for prospective radiology applicants, but the online transparency of oncologic imaging fellowship programs has not been systematically evaluated. Purpose: To assess applicant-relevant information on oncologic imaging fellowship websites in USA and Canada and determine whether website completeness differs by institutional characteristics. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, oncologic imaging fellowship programs were identified through structured manual web searches. Eligible programs offered at least 1 year of radiology fellowship training with oncologic imaging as a principal component and had an active official webpage. Websites were assessed for 24 prespecified criteria across four domains. Each item was coded as present or absent, and overall and domain completeness scores were calculated. Overall completeness was compared between dedicated cancer centers and other institutions using the Mann–Whitney U test. Results: Twenty programs were included: 18 in the United States and two in Canada; 13 were based at dedicated cancer centers. Median overall completeness was 70.8% (interquartile range, 59.4%–79.2%). Program and application information had the highest median completeness (90%), whereas people, outcomes, and employment had the lowest (25%). Alumni or career placement information was available on four websites (20%), current fellows on five (25%), and teaching opportunities on six (30%). Dedicated cancer-center programs had greater overall completeness than other institutions (79.2% vs 62.5%; P = .028). Conclusion: Oncologic imaging fellowship websites generally provide strong program and application information but frequently omit trainee, alumni, employment, and teaching information. Dedicated cancer-center programs had more complete websites.