Abstract
BACKGROUND: High learner engagement is important for the success of asynchronous and online learning for graduate medical education. Medical trainees have recently reported using medical mobile apps. App-based interactions may provide more participation than email-based interactions. We sought to investigate (1) if there were higher levels of engagement with an online curriculum using notifications sent via email as compared with via text, and (2) if there were higher levels of engagement with the mobile app or website format. METHODS: We implemented an online Journal Club curriculum with weekly topics for anesthesiology residents (postgraduate years 2-4) from July 2020 to June 2021. Weekly notifications were sent to residents via email for weeks 1-10, text for weeks 11-20, then email for weeks 21-49. Based on activity logs, we compared (1) the weekly numbers of interactions when email notifications were sent with the weekly numbers of interactions when text notifications were sent, and (2) the weekly numbers of interactions via the app with the weekly numbers of interactions via the website. RESULTS: Thirty-eight of the 54 anesthesiology residents in our department at the time of the study (70.4%) interacted with the online Journal Club at least once throughout the study. The weekly numbers of interactions with email notifications (median [interquartile range (IQR)]: 13 [7-28]) were significantly higher than with text notifications (median [IQR]: 6 [4-8]) (P = .023). The weekly numbers of interactions via the website (median [IQR]: 9 [4-24]) were significantly higher than via the app (median [IQR]: 0 [0-1]) (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Although mobile technology may increase engagement and participation for some educational resources, learners may prefer accessing others through more conventional methods.