Transforming Clinical Learning: Insights on Mobile Medical Imaging Applications Use among Undergraduate Students

Smartphone applications have significant benefits in various specialties. The medical field is no exception to this trend, but more research is needed on the use of smartphone medical imaging apps among Saudi Arabian students. This study aimed to evaluate the awareness of mobile radiology applications (Apps), and the effectiveness of mobile applications. The findings of the study are important to enhance the integration of mobile technological resources in the teaching-learning process of radiology which is still an unexplored issue. A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted during January and February 2025. four hundred ninety participants, including undergraduate medical imaging students from governmental and private institutions across Saudi Arabia, participated in the study. Most of the undergraduate students agreed (40.7%) and strongly agreed (28.6%) that the mobile medical imaging Apps were easy, quick, well organized, and gained the confidence of the users. 50.5% of the participants used mobile apps during their daily clinical practice, and 42.9% agreed that mobile apps improved their practical skills. 33% of the participants reported that mobile medical imaging Apps were more effective than logbooks or pocketbooks, while 40.7% showed supplement logbooks or pocketbooks were more effective. The study found that participants who installed medical imaging apps had better knowledge and skills, particularly in practical skills (p-value = .017), radiographic positioning (p-value = .030), x-ray collimation (p-value < .001), radiographic anatomy (p-value < .001), and evaluating x-ray image criteria (p-value < .001), compared to those who did not install the apps. The findings of this study indicate that mobile medical imaging apps can enhance the practical skills and knowledge of radiology students. The positive outcomes observed suggest that these applications should be integrated into radiology curricula to provide students with accessible, efficient learning tools. Future research should investigate the long-term effects of mobile apps on clinical practice, as well as explore how their integration can be optimized across different educational settings.