Using a Chat-Based Trivia Activity to Foster Community in Residency

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Learning
• Community Building

Background:

• Geographic separation in multisite residency programs challenges community building.
• Technology is widely used for virtual classrooms but less is known about smaller-scale tools like chat.
• Engaging geographically dispersed residents requires innovative approaches to foster a sense of belonging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a chat-based trivia activity to enhance learning and community in a large, multisite residency program.
• To explore the use of social media tools for fostering engagement and belonging among medical residents.
• To assess the impact of a virtual learning intervention on residents' sense of community and excitement for learning.

Main Methods:

• Internal Medicine Trivia Thursdays (IMTT), a question-based activity, was implemented using the GroupMe chat application.
• Residents received 3-5 multimedia questions weekly covering curriculum topics and program leadership trivia.
• A voluntary, anonymous survey assessed resident satisfaction, learning, and sense of belonging at year-end.

Main Results:

• Of 224 residents, 48 responded to the survey (21.4% response rate).
• 43.8% of respondents reported being "somewhat satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the program.
• Frequent participants in IMTT showed increased excitement for learning and a stronger sense of community compared to infrequent participants.

Conclusions:

• A chat-based trivia activity, grounded in connectivism, effectively engaged residents and fostered community.
• This virtual learning intervention is low-cost, feasible, and primarily requires facilitator time.
• The study highlights the importance of social belonging and engagement, suggesting future optimization for user-friendliness and opt-out options.