QR Code-enabled Pathology Museum: Students’ Response to Innovative Practice in Medical Education

Aims and background: There has been a rapid change in medical education, particularly regarding the role of museums, in recent years.Introduction of innovative teaching practices and alternative teaching tools, some fueled by the coronavirus pandemic, has brought a change in the traditional approach.The present generation of students is very much dependent on mobile technology.Quick response (QR) code is a two-dimensional (2D) barcode system that is being used in various fields throughout the world, with increasing use in the medical field.The main objective of the study was to analyze the response of medical students to the use of a QR-based teaching method in the pathology museum. Materials and methods:The gross wet-mounted specimens in the pathology museum were labeled with specific QR codes, and the utility of this system was evaluated by the collection of feedback from MBBS phase II (2nd year) students. Results:The majority of the students used the built-in camera application for scanning the QR codes, and they utilized the facility for more than half of the specimens in the museum.The majority of the students strongly endorsed the benefits of using the QR code system as a digital aid in the pathology museum. Conclusion:The findings of this study suggest that the facility of specific QR codes on wet-mounted specimens as an innovative practice in medical education is a very effective tool for learning.It also provides a novel opportunity to excite and engage students in a manner that is relevant to the present generation.