Internet of Things in Medical Education: A Systematic Mapping Review

Abstract

Context The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a promising technology with the potential to transform medical professional training and education. IoT refers to a network of physical items that are embedded with sensors, software, and connections that exchange data via the Internet. IoT provides the possibility of merging electronic health records, medical devices, and wearable technologies to create an interactive learning environment in medical education. Objectives The current study's goal was to identify and map current IoT advancements in medicine by conducting a systematic mapping review of the existing research on IoT in medical education. It intends to provide answers to major research question, such as trends and activities in IoT development in medical education. Methods Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a systematic mapping review was conducted in major online scientific databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and IEEE Xplore up to end of 2022 to identify empirical studies related to IoT and medical education. A total of 199 papers were found, from which 24 were ultimately selected based on particular inclusion/exclusion criteria. Results While the majority of medical IoT research are conducted across a network of twelve different countries, the United States has emerged as the leader in developing IoT systems for medical education. The dynamic potential of IoT devices and sensors in medical education included areas such as activity monitoring, physiological monitoring, data collecting, and simulation. In medical education, IoT applications include surgical training, non-surgical teaching, and resident monitoring. Conclusions The study findings highlight the importance of further research efforts aimed at addressing challenges and unlocking the full array of benefits IoT has to offer in medical education. It is expected that these discoveries will catalyze interest among medical education leaders and policymakers, encouraging them to explore the promising horizons of wearable technology and IoT applications in medical education, ultimately leading to enhanced educational outcomes and practices.