Text4Peds: Feasibility of an Educational Text-Messaging Program for Pediatrics Residents

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Mobile Learning
• Residency Training

Background:

• Maximizing educational material for time-constrained residents is crucial.
• Mobile technology, including smartphone applications, shows promise for education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of a text-messaging program (Text4Peds) for resident education.
• To evaluate resident satisfaction and perceived usefulness of the texting program for pediatric board exam preparation.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involved pediatrics and combined internal medicine-pediatrics residents.
• Daily text messages with board facts were sent to residents for 3 months.
• Surveys assessed perceived educational value, impact on board preparation, and system feasibility.

Main Results:

• 64% of residents participated; 96.2% of messages were successfully delivered.
• Residents found the daily texts a quick, helpful study tool for board facts.
• Appropriate frequency was 1-5 messages/week; drawbacks included character limits and lack of Q&A.

Conclusions:

• An educational text message-based program was successfully implemented in a residency program.
• The system demonstrated a high message delivery success rate.
• Residents perceived educational value in the text messages for board preparation.