Abstract
BACKGROUND: Medical students navigate a complex landscape of digital tools with potential to enhance learning. The main objectives of the current study were to investigate which digital resources are being used, which background factors are associated with utilization, perceived advantages and disadvantages of different digital resources, and explore future directions. METHODS: Cross-sectional, nationwide, online 25-item multiple-choice question survey and one free-text question enabling qualitative data analysis. Medical students at all seven universities with medical school programs in Sweden were invited to participate. Data were collected October - December 2024. RESULTS: One thousand seven hundred sixty-six students responded to the survey, with an average response rate of 20.2% across sites. The five most frequently used digital resources were (percentage using at least on a weekly basis): University study platform (75.3%), videos (68.0%), flashcards (66.4%), student notes (53.4%) and external study platforms (47.3%). Flashcards were perceived to have a large to very large positive impact on development and maintenance of theoretical knowledge by 63.7% of students. Younger age (≤ 25 years) was strongly associated with higher use of flashcards (OR 1.98 (95% CI 1.54-2.54)) and generative artificial intelligence (AI) (OR 1.66 (1.29-2.15)), whereas having children at home was associated with more frequent use of videos (OR 2.32 (1.32-4.08)) and university digital platforms (OR 2.62 (1.26-5.45)), in multivariable logistic regression analyses. Most students (74.8%) reported finding their digital resources based on recommendations from more senior medical students. Perceived key advantages of digital resources in general were availability (90.9%), flexibility (80.6%), and more effective learning compared to traditional modalities (59.0%), while possible disadvantages included risk for distraction (49.6%) and uncertainty regarding reliability of content (45.4%). Qualitative data highlighted several areas of interest, including calls for universities and lecturers to provide high-quality, updated video material and flashcard decks tailored to the curriculum, and review and recommend third-party digital resources (e.g., YouTube channels). CONCLUSIONS: Medical students extensively use digital resources, with perceived large positive learning effects and benefits. Several background factors influence usage patterns. These data may support institutions, program directors and teachers in their efforts to guide and improve use of digital learning tools in medical schools.