Utilization of Electronic Devices and Online Education Tools for Learning Among Undergraduate Medical Students of a...

Introduction Mobile learning and digital educational tools have revolutionized medical education globally. This study explores the usage patterns and perceptions of electronic devices and online educational tools among undergraduate medical students in a tertiary care hospital in India. Materials and methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital among undergraduate medical students. A validated questionnaire covering three domains (general use, learning use, and attitudes) was distributed through Google Forms (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA). Data were analyzed for statistical association of the usefulness of online educational tools and the attitude of students toward online education tools by the chi-square test. Cronbach's alpha was calculated for attitude questions. Results Of 400 students, 322 (80.5%) participated. Smartphones were the most commonly used devices among 151 (46.9%) students, and 252 (78.26%) students used online educational platforms. Marrow and YouTube were the most popular educational platforms. Most students found online tools helpful in various aspects. For learning new concepts, 319 (99.1%) students; for revision, 297 (92.2%) students; and for self-assessment, 288 (89.4%) students stated online tools as helpful, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). While students appreciated digital learning, many remained neutral or skeptical about replacing traditional methods. Association for all the questions of attitude was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusions Undergraduate medical students at our tertiary care teaching hospital widely adopt digital education tools. While digital platforms enhance learning, challenges such as cost and potential distractions warrant consideration in overemphasizing the use of online education tools.