Utilization Patterns and Perceptions of a Spaced Repetition Flashcard Program, Anki, Among First-Year Medical Students

Most students identified as Anki users (94%), emphasizing its role in medical education, and most users relied on pre-made cards (97.6%) and considered Anki as a key study strategy (62.6%). Most students preferred fill-in-the-blank cards (78%), 59% believed Anki boosted productivity compared to other study tools, and a substantial majority (87.8%) believed that Anki significantly contributes to their success in modules. Anki also affected "everyday" life activities. A majority (56.6%) reported multitasking with Anki during activities like exercising or eating. In addition, a Pearson correlation test revealed that the higher the percent study strategy of Anki, the stronger the perception of success (r= 0.621, p<0.001). Conclusion: Most medical students use Anki as part of their study strategy. Faculty may be able to utilize these insights to optimize the implementation of Anki in medical education by helping students understand how to best utilize Anki's best practices. Future research could further explore students' reasons for how they use this resource.