A National Assessment of the Availability, Utilisation and Impact of Digital Learning Resources Among Nigerian Medical Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Background: Access to educational resources that support academic development is integral to high quality medical education. Despite increasing digitalisation, disparities in access persist across several Low- and Middle-Income settings. There is no national-level evidence on medical students’ access to digital educational resources in Nigeria. This study therefore aimed to assess the availability of, and access to essential digital tools and academic resources among undergraduate medical students across Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey administered to medical students from purposively selected accredited medical schools across Nigeria. One private, one state-owned, and one federal medical school were selected from each geopolitical zone. The survey was open to students in all years of study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression. Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Research and Ethics Committee of Jos University Teaching Hospital, and informed consent was obtained from all participants. Findings: A total of 784 medical students from 15 medical schools participated. Only 41.5% reported access to personalised institutional email accounts, of whom 71.1% used them to access academic resources. Institutional access to lecture recordings, online courses, and simulation laboratories was reported by 51.5%, 32.8%, and 23.2% of respondents, respectively. Only 19.0% perceived themselves as adequately equipped to compete globally with the available digital academic resources. Access to online courses (p = 0.001), lecture recordings (p = 0.003), and simulation laboratories (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with improved perceived global competitiveness. Conclusion: Despite widespread ownership of internet-enabled devices, substantial gaps remain in access to essential institutional digital resources. Strengthening digital infrastructure and expanding internet services are critical to enhancing the quality and global relevance of medical education in Nigeria. This study presents the first nationwide assessment of access to digital tools and educational resources among medical students in Nigeria.