Contribution of mobile applications to learning and medical practice

Abstract

Introduction: Medical mobile applications are increasing, accessible and easy leading to a considerable increase use by physicians.

Aim: To assess the contribution of mobile applications to medical learning and practice among medical residents.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out during May and June 2021, via an anonymous questionnaire, published online focusing on the contribution of medical applications in the learning and the daily life of medical interns.

Results: We collected 134 responses completed by interns in all specialties. The mean age was 28 ± 2.04 years with a predominance of women (gender ratio = 0.39). The average number of years of experience was 4.52 ± 2.5 semesters. All interns had smartphones and 56.7%. Only 3% had no applications on their smartphones and 62.7% had between two and four applications. The most used applications were communication and scoring applications.  several advantages of these applications were noted, mainly assistance in therapeutic management (85.1%), diagnosis (76.9%) and communication (69.4%). However, limitations were mainly the lack of 3G / 4G coverage. For scientific research, the most used search engine were Google, Google Scholar and Pub Med. One hundred and six residents (79.1%) were satisfied with the contribution of applications to learning and 61 wished to have training in the specific use of the smartphone.

Conclusion: Communication, diagnostic or management help mobile applications have become unavailable in daily practice but also in learning. However, this new mode of instruction must be associated to the classical education.