Reply to “The Use of QR Codes to Promote Timely Feedback”

We would like to thank Drs Barnes and Nowakowski for their comments on our recently published paper on the use of QR codes to promote timely feedback.1 As they noted, timely, specific, and actionable feedback is critical in education, especially during short or highly demanding medical rotations.

We believe QR technology provides a viable bridge to improve the communication between preceptor and learner. Providing the feedback in this manner allows the learner to make specific changes, resulting in more effective summative and formative feedback. A recent literature search revealed several benefits for graduate medical education programs utilizing QR technology in providing formative feedback to residents and medical students.2 Compared to paper-based feedback, respondent faculty perceived improved faculty-to-learner interaction (57% vs 31%, P=.0005), comfort approaching the learner with feedback (86% vs 35%, P=.0019), and overall ability to provide feedback (52% vs 17%, P=.0071). Importantly, more faculty provided the feedback within 24 hours of the interaction using the QR-based feedback (71% vs 17%, P=.0005). Similar findings emerged when QR-based feedback was utilized for medical student clerkship rotations.3

In order to provide timely, actionable, formative QR-based feedback to the learner, both technical and cultural barriers may need to be addressed. The QR code should be directly linked to the program’s online evaluation system to allow the learner to quickly view the feedback and ensure appropriate program documentation. Coordination with the program developer/technical support will likely be needed. We strongly agree that QR-based feedback delivers the timely and effective feedback that residents desire.