Survey of Smartphones, Medical Mobile Apps and Generative AI Use among Medical Students in Nigeria: A Case Study

Background Smartphones, medical applications (apps) and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) are prominent learning tools widely used in higher education. However, the pattern of use of these tools among medical students at the Nigerian Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila - Orangun, has not been studied. The study was based on seven objectives set out to identify the pattern of usage of smartphones, medical apps, and GenAI for medical education among preclinical university students. Materials and Methods A descriptive survey design was employed. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire distributed electronically via WhatsApp to 297 preclinical medical students (Years 1–3) at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, between July 28th and August 28th, 2025. A total of 203 students responded, yielding a 75.5% response rate. The questionnaire, developed and validated by experts, covered smartphones, medical apps, and GenAI frequency and purpose. The data were analyzed via SPSS (version 22), and the results are presented in tables, frequencies, and charts. Results Of the 203 respondents, 43.3% (n = 88) were male, and 56.7% (n = 115) were female. All the students owned a smartphone, with 87.7% (n = 178) using Android devices and 13.3% (n = 25) using iPhones. A majority (81.3%, n = 165) reported daily smartphone use of 1–4 hours, 10.3% (n = 21) more than 5 hours, and 8.4% (n = 17) less than 1 hour. Primary purposes included reading lecture notes/ebooks, researching academic content online, and viewing medical videos. Medical app usage was widespread, with 87.7% (n = 178) reporting installations and 68% using them daily or weekly; commonly used apps included anatomy tools, interactive learning platforms, and medical dictionaries. Generative AI tools were also highly utilized, with ChatGPT (98%) being the most frequently accessed tool, followed by grammar checkers (56.7%), Med-PaLM (28.1%), Gemini (28.1%), and Copilot (13.3%) for the purpose of generating summaries of complex topics, clarifying difficult concepts, and preparing exams. Conclusion This study revealed a high level of use of smartphones, medical applications, and generative AI among medical students, underscoring the importance of these technologies in contemporary medical education. Accordingly, universities should develop clear policies to guide and optimize the use of smartphones, medical apps, and GenAI for academic purposes.