Medical students knowledge and use of smartphone-based applications

Smartphone-based medical applications are tools for accessing the latest valid scientific evidence. These programs can improve decision-making and communication between medical staff and reduce medical errors. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of knowledge and use of smartphone applications among medical students of Iran University of Medical Sciences.

This study was an applied study that was done by a descriptive-survey method. 81 final-year medical students of Iran University of Medical Sciences were selected by a census in the period 2017-2018. To collect the data, a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of three parts with a Likert scale was used, and its validity and reliability were measured and analyzed using SPSS software version 21.

More than 40% of the students used medical applications at different times of the week. Lack of Internet access at university and at work was the biggest barrier to accessing medical applications on a mobile phone. Most of the support needed to use these programs was to use the available online guides. UpToDate and MedScape medical programs were also the most used ones by the respondents.

The present study shows that medical students’ level of knowledge and use of smartphone-based medical applications, or rather, their level of knowledge and understanding of the applications is on the increase based on their information or experience. Therefore, necessary measures should be taken to facilitate and create Internet access infrastructure in the workplace and universities.