Attka Maryam, Nosheen Khurram, Mamoona Gulshan, Mehwish Tahir, Uzma Aziz, Madiha Afzal.
Convenience to access lecture materials: perception of students on the use of QR code versus traditional modes.
J Allama Iqbal Med Coll Jan ;19(4):956-61.

Objectives: With expansion of the Internet, there has been significant enhancement in the use of innovative methods in classrooms. One such technological innovation is QR codes. QR codes have become a part of our everyday life because of their versatility. Many industrial sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing and supply-chain are using them for the purpose of communication and information exchange. Academia has also explored their use for different purposes such as sharing of research content and study material with students. However, assessment of its use in medical education is underexplored especially in medical colleges in Pakistan. Objective of this study is to obtain students' perception on the use of QR code for sharing lectures in comparison with traditional modes of sharing including USB drives and emails. Methods: All first year MBBS students were included in the study. All students were asked to download QR code scanner on their mobile phones. Classroom lectures were delivered three times a week for 3 months. During each lecture, study material was shared with students in the form of a QR code. After three months, students were given an online questionnaire and students' perception was assessed using a 4-point Likert scale satisfaction survey. Results: According to results of this study, 88% to 92.8 % of students including both girls and boys found it easier to access study material with a QR code. Overall, they preferred use of a QR code for accessing lectures and study material over previously used methods. Conclusion: The results provide insight to academia and teachers in medical education institutions that use of QR code improve access to study material for students and enhance student's satisfaction compared to old traditional methods.

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