Presented By: Jonathan Fisher, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
Co-Authors: Aaron Deter, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
Ryan Dillard, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
Jenna Regan, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria

Purpose 
Modern medical students prefer efficient, "high yield" electronic study resources they can use at home. We built the HistoLogic app to supplement histology content in the first year medical school curriculum. Student feedback for HistoLogic has been positive, but we were curious how students use the app to study.

Methods 
The HistoLogic app contains an explore mode that supplements histology labs, a game mode with randomized multiple choice questions, and a hot streak mode where students aim for new high scores. For the class of 2026, the blood and lymphoid version of HistoLogic was released in fall of 2022 and the gastrointestinal and renal modules were released in the spring of 2023. We examined number of logins, time using the app, and usage by mode on a weekly basis for each organ system. We also conducted student interviews and an anonymous survey to evaluate how learners use the app to study.

Results 
25.7% (76/296) of students installed the app in the fall of 2022, and an additional 38.2% (189/296) of students installed the app in the spring of 2023. We were surprised to find most students who used the app in the spring were new users; only four students returned to the app after using it in the fall. Peak usage times occurred the week after the corresponding histology lab and the week before the exam. Survey data showed that most students use the app between 6 and 20 minutes in a single sitting.

Conclusions 
Contrary to our expectations, most students who used the app in the fall did not return to it after release of the next module in the spring. Students appear to primarily use the app as a review resource in short bursts to review content after class or in preparation for the exam.