title: Text4Peds: Feasibility of an Educational Text-Messaging Program for Pediatrics Residents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is an ongoing effort to maximize educational material provided to residents who are in a time-constrained work environment. Mobile technology, principally smartphone applications and online modules, has shown educational promise.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed a text-messaging program, Text4Peds, to assist residents with preparation for their pediatric board examinations. Goals were to assess (1) the feasibility of texting educational messages to residents, and (2) resident satisfaction and perceived usefulness of a texting program.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective study of pediatrics and combined internal medicine-pediatrics residents. Messages derived from the most missed pediatric in-training examination questions were sent daily to residents. After 3 months, residents completed surveys that gauged their perception on the educational value of the text messages and the effect on their pediatric board preparation. Feasibility of the system was assessed as a total percentage of messages successfully received by residents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 55 residents, 35 (64%) participated in the program. Of 2534 messages sent out to participants, 2437 (96.2%) were delivered successfully. Positive comments cited the texting of board facts as a quick, helpful, daily study tool. Residents liked that messages were sent at 2:00 pm, and most felt that 1 to 5 messages per week was appropriate. Drawbacks included character restrictions of messages, content limitations, and the lack of a question-answer format.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An educational text message-based program was successfully implemented in our residency program. Messages were delivered with a high success rate, and residents found educational value in the messages.
authors.forename: Gregory T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Adamson
authors.forename: Lauren R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Draper
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Broom