The Impact of Video Game Experience on Surgical Performance: A Systematic Review.
Jack Freeman, Isabel Zak, Thomas McConnell et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This systematic review evaluated the relationship between video gaming experience and surgical performance among surgeons across various modalities. It included 15 studies with 641 participants, revealing that video gaming experience was linked to improved overall scores and faster task completion in laparoscopic surgery, particularly before formal training. However, no significant associations were found in non-laparoscopic modalities.
Key findings
- Video gaming experience improved overall scores and task completion times in laparoscopic surgery.
- Accuracy in surgical tasks favored gamers in two studies reporting this outcome.
- No meaningful association was found in non-laparoscopic surgical modalities.
- The single randomized controlled trial included was assessed to be at serious risk of bias.
Why it matters
Understanding the potential benefits of video gaming on surgical performance can inform surgical training approaches. It suggests that gaming may serve as a supplementary tool to enhance skills before formal training, although findings are limited to specific surgical contexts.
What to keep in mind
All nonrandomized studies were at moderate or serious risk of bias, and the single randomized controlled trial also had serious risk of bias.