The effects of video games on laparoscopic simulator skills

Maarten B Jalink; Jetse Goris; Erik Heineman; Jean-Pierre E N Pierie; Henk O ten Cate Hoedemaker

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2013.11.006

The effects of video games on laparoscopic simulator skills

Am J Surg. 2014 Jul;208(1):151-6. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2013.11.006. Epub 2014 Mar 26.

Authors

Maarten B Jalink¹, Jetse Goris², Erik Heineman³, Jean-Pierre E N Pierie⁴, Henk O ten Cate Hoedemaker⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: maartenjalink@hotmail.com.
² Wenckebach Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
⁴ Post Graduate School of Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Surgery, Medical Center Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands; Leeuwarden Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
⁵ Department of Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Post Graduate School of Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

PMID: 24814309
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2013.11.006

Abstract

Background: Recently, there has been a growth in studies supporting the hypothesis that video games have positive effects on basic laparoscopic skills. This review discusses all studies directly related to these effects.

Data sources: A search in the PubMed and EMBASE databases was performed using synonymous terms for video games and laparoscopy. All available articles concerning video games and their effects on skills on any laparoscopic simulator (box trainer, virtual reality, and animal models) were selected.

Conclusions: Video game experience has been related to higher baseline laparoscopic skills in different studies. There is currently, however, no standardized method to assess video game experience, making it difficult to compare these studies. Several controlled experiments have, nevertheless, shown that video games cannot only be used to improve laparoscopic basic skills in surgical novices, but are also used as a temporary warming-up before laparoscopic surgery.

Keywords: Education; Laparoscopy; Review; Video games.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Clinical Competence*
Computer Simulation*
Humans
Laparoscopy / education*
Task Performance and Analysis
Video Games*