WIP 44 - Evaluating the Accuracy and Resident Perception of QR Code-Based Attendance Tracking in Pediatric Academic Conferences

Publication Number: WIP 44.7674

Boone Rhinehart, Doernbecher Children's Hospital at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States; Laura McWhirter, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR, United States; Austen Yeager, Doernbecher Children's Hospital at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States; Megan Aylor, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States

Background: QR code technology offers a cost-effective, user-friendly way to track attendance in medical education, improving accuracy and engagement. Though QR codes streamline attendance in many settings, their use in residency programs is limited. This study evaluates the accuracy and resident perception of a QR code-based system to reduce administrative burdens and improve tracking.

Objective: To compare the accuracy of the QR system against manual tracking for morning conferences and assess if residents perceive improved accuracy using QR codes. Hypotheses: Residents will view QR tracking as accurate, and it will match manual tracking. Primary endpoint: accuracy of attendance records; secondary endpoint: resident feedback on usability and burden.

Design/Methods: A prospective cohort study compared a new QR code-based system with traditional manual tracking among 58 pediatric residents. Residents scanned a QR code posted on the conference room door upon arrival or departure, directing them to a Qualtrics survey capturing their name, conference, and timestamp for verification. A post-study survey will collect resident perspectives on the system.

To date, attendance has been tracked across 32 morning conferences, with an average of 13 residents per session. Early results showed a discrepancy of three residents between QR and manual systems in the first month, which decreased to fewer than two per conference as residents grew familiar with the system. This learning curve effect indicates that QR tracking increasingly aligns with manual records.

The QR code system shows accuracy comparable to manual tracking, with better consistency as residents adapt to it. By reducing administrative burdens, it may improve conference engagement by allowing educators to focus more on content. These preliminary results support expanding the system to other conferences, with future resident interviews offering further insights on usability and perceived accuracy.