A scoping review evaluated current research on podcast use in undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education. Using the PubMed and Embase databases, the researchers identified in June–July 2020 62 relevant articles on audio-only medical education podcast. According to their analysis, podcast use has increased over time. Emergency medicine trainees were early podcast adopters for medical education. Listeners include learners at all educational levels, and reasons for choosing podcast content include for just-in-time training and filling knowledge gaps. 29 studies evaluating learner reaction and attitudes to podcasts found they were valued for their portability, efficiency and cumulative educational and entertainment value. 10 studies on knowledge retention rated podcasts as noninferior to traditional teaching. 11 studies concerning behavior change showed that podcasts helped improve medical students' documentation skills and self-reported practice change among residents and practicing physicians. The authors recommended future study into the optimal structure of podcasts for learning, higher-level podcast outcomes and incorporation into formal curricula. "Podcasts may prove to be essential tools for disseminating and implementing the most current, evidence-based practices," they wrote.

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