Application of Anki Flashcards in Medical Education: A Narrative Review

Medical training demands efficient strategies for acquiring and retaining large volumes of information, as traditional methods often prove inadequate. This narrative review examines the use of Anki flashcards, an open-source tool that leverages spaced repetition to enhance learning outcomes and exam performance among medical students. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases to identify primary research from the past decade exploring Anki's educational applications. Evidence suggests that Anki users consistently outperform non-users on standardized exams such as USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1, with several studies reporting an average score increase of 5 to 10 points. The tool is particularly effective during the clinical and preclinical phases, especially in content-heavy subjects such as anatomy, pathology, and pharmacology. Additionally, Anki use has been associated with reduced test anxiety, improved study efficiency, and increased learner motivation. Anki's flexibility allows students to personalize study schedules and manage extensive content more effectively. However, existing research is limited by small sample sizes and reliance on self-reported data. Future studies should adopt larger, prospective designs to assess Anki's long-term impact on knowledge retention and academic performance. Integrating Anki into formal medical curricula may offer a valuable complement to traditional teaching methods.