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Gaming Skills Directly Linked to Surgical Skills

Posted by Zonk on from the all-that-trauma-center-paid-off dept.

Orinthe writes "According to Reuters, a new study involving 33 surgeons at a New York hospital shows 'a strong correlation between video game skills and a surgeon's capabilities'. A statement by the senior author of the study even suggests the use of video games as a training tool for surgeons. Another of the study's authors cautions parents to curb excessive gaming, however: 'spending that much time playing video games is not going to help their child's chances of getting into medical school'."

4 of 54 comments (clear)

  1. Reinforcing what we already know by oldwindways · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It seems that this is just reinforcing what has already been shown in the past. Video games or computer simulations have been used for decades to train pilots and soldiers. It only stands to reason that a profession which requires one to carry out a complex series of precise actions, as well as make decisions in a rapidly evolving environment (since just about anything can go wrong in surgery) could be aided through the use of video games.

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    "Si vis pacem para bellum" -Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus
  2. robots wil turn surgery into real life video games by teh_chrizzle · · Score: 3, Interesting

    i work for a surgical research center and minimally invasive robotic surgery will change everything. we use da vincis to do proofs of concept on cadavers and live animals, and the technology is no where near ready for prime time, but the possibilities are really cool.

    the control console and the robot don't have to be in the same place, so it will be possible to perform surgery with the patient in a completely sterile field without all the people that are usually necessary in a traditional OR. the graspers are currently the size of a finger and are articulated like a wrist, so doctors have greater range of motion in smaller spaces (smaller incisions mean less risk of infections, less pain, and faster recovery times). it will also be possible to perform surgery remotely (telemedicine) which is ideal for military and disaster relief scenarios. nasa is interested in telesurgery for space missions where it's not always possible to turn around and go back. it will also be possible to have a surgery mentored remotely by an expert (telementoring) so developing countries can get better access to advanced medicine.

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    sarcasm:
    -noun
    1. harsh or bitter derision or irony.
  3. really doesn't say anything useful by kpharmer · · Score: 1, Interesting

    ok, so the test examined *correlation* between gaming skills and:
    "Laparoscopy and related surgeries involve manipulating instruments through a small incision or body opening where the surgeon's movements are guided by watching a television screen."

    What's not clear:
    1. if there is causation (games improved some skills) - do each activity just attract slightly obsessive individuals that happen to do best at each profession?
    2. if just as much benefit could be gained from a few hours a week of using a mouse - sounds like the major skill here is
          just being able to relate activity on a monitor to activity with your hand.
    3. how much of a surgeon's professional skills this represents - that is, what about diagnostics, knowledge of techniques,
          communication, etc? I'm guessing that playing WoW doesn't contribute much to a surgeon's knowledge of anatomy...

  4. surgery skillz by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Does being a skilled surgeon make you better at video games?