Background; Medical apps on smart devices are popular among medical students. However, the impact of medical apps on clinical practice is relatively less known.

Aims: To study the prevalence of medical app usage among medical students and assess its impact on clinical practice.

Method: One hundred fifty-five first year medical students of the International Medical University, Malaysia completed an anonymous questionnaire designed to explore demographic parameters, types of smart devices owned and the medical apps installed on the smart devices; and the frequency and purpose of usage of the apps. The students’ perception regarding medical apps, the impact of medical apps on clinical practice and the characteristics of an ideal medical app were explored.

Results: About 88% of medical students reported owning a smart device and 87.5% had medical apps installed on their smart devices. Most students reported positive perceptions towards medical apps and agreed they have positive impact on their studies and clinical practice. However, the medical students reported little awareness about the potential breach of patient confidentiality with the use of these apps.

Conclusion: There is high prevalence of smart devices and medical apps usage among first year clinical medical students with positive perception regarding its usage and impact on their clinical practice. Medical schools should encourage the use of medical apps among medical students with strategies put in place to safeguard patient confidentiality.

Background: Physical activity is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. There are multiple barriers to exercise in the modern world. This combined with poor dietary behavior is a principle driver of obesity. Given the prevalence of mobile technology, especially among young adults, public health initiatives utilising fitness applications on smartphones offer an exciting new frontier in tackling this problem. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the effectiveness of this mobile technology as a substitute to other exercise modalities.

Methods: In this pilot study, a search was performed using the Apple 4S smartphone’s “App Store” for relevant fitness applications (‘apps’). Three apps were found to fulfill the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study: Nike Training Club, Instant Fitness and Gorilla Workout Free. Exercise was then performed as per each app’s guidance, and caloric expenditure was measured using a validated device. This caloric expenditure was then compared with the control exercises, which included slow-speed jogging, WiiFit Plus exercises, and RPM, an indoor gym cycling program. One subject performed three trials of each exercise modality.

Results: Jogging was the best form of exercise in regards to caloric expenditure (mean 7.9 calories/min), and was superior to all other groups. Nike Training Club was superior to Gorilla Workout Free app, however, there were no other significant differences between the apps. Nike Training Club and Instant Fitness apps were as effective as RPM and WiiFit Plus groups.

Conclusion: This pilot study showed that fitness apps are as effective as a gym cycling group class with regards to caloric expenditure per unit of time. They offer a new paradigm for exercise for individuals with barriers to participating in organised fitness activity. Smartphone technology has the potential to be utilised as a new tool for public health initiatives to tackle the growing obesity epidemic.