Military Medical Student Technology Readiness and Resource Utilization

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Sciences Technology
• Educational Resources

Background:

• Investigates medical education technology use by students at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
• Explores student utilization of resources, considering effectiveness, cost, and peer influence.
• Aims to optimize learning and ensure responsible Department of Defense (DoD) fund stewardship.

Purpose of the Study:

• Inform student resource selection.
• Guide institutional resource allocation.
• Facilitate faculty technology integration.

Main Methods:

• Administered the Technology Readiness Index survey.
• Surveyed medical students from the classes of 2023-2027.
• Collected 98 responses.

Main Results:

• Reported third-party resource costs varied widely ($0-$6,000), increasing annually through medical school.
• Observed differences in resource use timing among students.
• Students reported high optimism (4.36/5) towards technology, followed by insecurity (3.43/5), discomfort, and innovativeness.

Conclusions:

• Medical students utilize a mix of institution-provided and personal resources.
• Resource utilization patterns vary based on academic progression.
• Institutions should align resource recommendations with student preferences throughout medical education.