The practical training of healthcare students and professionals is crucial for ensuring quality and safety in patient care. Over recent decades, technological advancements have significantly transformed this field, shifting from traditional methods to digital learning environments. This change offers great opportunities but also presents challenges for educational institutions globally.
Digital tools are revolutionizing the way medical knowledge and skills are delivered. Technologies such as simulation-based learning, virtual reality, e-learning platforms, mobile applications, and artificial intelligence are increasingly being integrated into medical education. These tools have shown potential in improving knowledge acquisition, clinical reasoning, and psychomotor skills. However, integrating these technologies sustainably into medical curricula remains complex due to high costs, infrastructural limitations, lack of faculty training, and insufficient long-term efficacy evidence.
Educators and policymakers face uncertainty in choosing effective and cost-efficient technologies that align with educational outcomes. The literature, although rich in focused studies, lacks a comprehensive synthesis of technological trends over time. Understanding which tools have had a transformative impact on medical education is crucial, especially with emerging fields like AI reshaping educational practices.
This systematic review aims to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive analysis of technology trends in medical education from 1978 to 2024. It seeks to identify influential educational technologies, analyze their effects on learning outcomes, and synthesize challenges and strengths associated with their integration. By offering a historical perspective, this review aims to guide strategic investments in educational technology, ultimately equipping future healthcare professionals with the necessary competencies for a digital healthcare landscape.
