Smartphone Usage Patterns Among Postgraduate Medical Students: A Central India Perspective on Adaptive Learning in Medicine

Abstract

Introduction Technological developments are drawn on a path of continuous inventions. Smartphones have been used in educational activities to access course content, acquire information related to students' performance, and encourage discussion and sharing between students and teachers. Students as learners are the drivers of using new technology for their learning needs, and this is always evolving. Aim The aim of the study is to assess the usage of smartphones for academic learning among postgraduate medical students in a teaching institute in Central India. Materials and methods This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted on 130 postgraduate medical students for a period of four months from 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2022. Results The mean age of the study subjects was 28.34 ± 3.22 years with the range being 23 to 44 years. Smartphones had a significant impact on the academic learning of postgraduate medical students. The major impacts of smartphones on academic learning were in the form of improved learning skills (60.91%), timely completion of assignments (40%), increased participation in discussions (34.55%), enhanced academic performance (33.64%), and development of critical and innovative thinking (29.09%). Conclusion A significant proportion of medical postgraduates are utilizing smartphones and social media for academic purposes. Although this new technology offers the potential to enhance learning and patient care, it has some inherent problems associated with its use. However, it may go a long way in redefining how we manage information in medicine.