The Use of Smartphone Applications in Medical Education

Abstract

Introduction: With the rise of computer technology, there has seen a shift in the delivery of medical education towards e-learning. Specifically, there has been increased use smartphone technology and applications (app) use. Aim: The aim of this article is to assess the use of medical apps amongst medical students. Results: 89% of respondents owned a smart device. Of these, 98% used Apps. Medical applications were used in 82% of the “App user” population. Apps were used for medical learning purposes in 85% of this population, of which 93% found them useful. If a more comprehensive medical learning application were to be available, 97% of responders would consider using it. Conclusion: The use of smart devices and medical apps is prevalent amongst medical students and will continue to rise in the future. Medical apps may be a very important adjunct in medical education however the evidence remains limited. To keep up with technological advances and meet the learning needs of medical students both now and in the future, more research is required to assess and address these needs.