Using an Audience Response System Smartphone App to Improve Resident Education in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pediatric Intensive Care
• Digital Health Technologies

Background:

• Traditional bedside rounds are the primary mode of medical education in Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs).
• Emerging technologies, such as smartphone applications, offer novel avenues for enhancing educational experiences.
• Audience Response System (ARS) apps present a potential tool for interactive learning and knowledge gap identification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of an ARS app in identifying resident knowledge gaps within the PICU setting.
• To determine if ARS-based teaching improves educational outcomes compared to traditional methods.
• To assess the impact of ARS on both learner engagement and instructor teaching efficiency.

Main Methods:

• A study involving third-year pediatric residents in a PICU, comparing ARS-based education with traditional teaching methods.
• Pre-rotation knowledge assessment to ensure baseline comparability between groups.
• Implementation of an ARS quiz (Socrative app) before rounds, with instructors predicting performance to guide teaching discussions.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in post-rotation examination scores between the ARS group and the control group.
• Fellows' predictions of resident performance on the ARS quiz were inaccurate.
• Residents reported enhanced educational experiences, while fellows noted improved teaching efficiency.

Conclusions:

• Despite not demonstrating a measurable increase in knowledge acquisition, the ARS app shows promise as a tool for rapid learner assessment.
• The technology may facilitate learner-centered education by helping instructors tailor teaching to identified knowledge gaps.
• Further research is warranted to optimize the integration of ARS technology in clinical education settings.