Presented By: Marley Jacobs, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Co-Authors: Emily Ames, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Carlos Georges, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Josh Levy, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Edward Simanton, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Colin Standifird, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Victoria Winter, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Purpose 
Medical education is characterized by a short preclinical phase that requires students to learn large volumes of information. Many educational resources use established learning principles to benefit retention. Anki is an open source, free digital flashcard program that uses space repetition to review information over increasing time intervals. Anki's algorithm enhances long term retention by increasing the interval each time there is a correct answer. Once the flash card reaches an interval of 21 days it becomes a "matured" card. 

Methods
Using the software add-on "Anki Stat Scraper," students' quantitative Anki usage was collected. Based on their number of matured Anki cards, students were classified into groups of longitudinal Anki users and inconsistent reviewers. Analysis of the top and bottom quartiles was run and t-tests were utilized to assess a correlation between Anki usage and final exam scores. 

Results 
Preliminary results showed that the average final exam score of students using Anki and participating in the study was 86 (n=44). The average number of matured cards was 6700 with the number of matured cards ranging from 0 - 23,070. The top quartile of matured cards (n=11) had an average final exam score of 92, and the bottom quartile of matured cards (n=11) had an average exam score of 85. The comparison of these quartiles revealed a p-value of ??0.0046. Data collection is ongoing; we expect additional findings. 

Conclusion 
Analysis revealed a significant difference in NBME cumulative final exam scores between the highest and lowest quartile of mature Anki cards, proposing that a daily longitudinal review may contribute to higher exam scores. Anki's spaced repetition is a valuable resource for medical students, especially as they build and expand upon their knowledge in the preclinical phase.