Gaming Skills Directly Linked to Surgical Skills

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'."

Sweet

[gQuigs (913879)]

New job opportunities for me.. and I haven't even taken bio.

Re:Sweet

[flyingsquid (813711)]

Here's a tip. The cheat code for open heart surgery is" up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start. Also, there's a power-up hidden behind the left aorta.

Re:

[gEvil (beta) (945888)]

Power up? What they really need to know is where the extra life is hidden.

I knew it

[Masami Eiri (617825)]

Trauma Center really is a training sim. When GUILT appears, there will be legions of gamers, ready to fight it.

Re:I knew it

[UbuntuDupe (970646)]

I can see it now:

"Sir, we've been looking for someone like you for ages! Trauma Center was really just a way of finding who was best equipped to operate against G.U.I.L.T. Your Nintendo Wii reported your results. You are the top player. We need you to join the fight with us."
"Um, the 80s called. They want their sci-fi plots back."

Re:

[gEvil (beta) (945888)]

Just what we need--doctors who wonder why time doesn't slow down when they make a star shape with their scalpel...

Problems with the methodology

[scheme (19778)]

The criticism that was also given after the article raises from valid points. Mainly whether the "mistakes" that were being counted have any effect on the clinical outcome and whether the the speed of the fastest surgeons indicate better skills or whether it indicated that they were not thinking of the test as a video game and not as a simulation of a procedure on a person.

So no great surprise then

[RogueyWon (735973)]

Children who participate in an activity that encourages fine motor controls, a steady hand, spatial awareness, the ability to assimilate new information rapidly and a requirement to perform under pressure in an actual win/lose environment (increasingly rare both in schools and in more traditional orgnised childhood pursuits) tend to increase their aptitutde for a profession that requires the same skills. At the same time, children who focus on said activity to the exclusion of all else put themselves at a big disadvantage.

Not exactly surprising, is it?

With games, as with everything else, the key message is always moderation. A 16-hours-a-day World of Warcraft addict is no more suited to be a surgeon than a steroidally enhanced jock, but just as a measure of sporting prowess can be helpful for some career paths, so the skills you learn from gaming can be of use elsewhere.

really doesn't say anything useful

[kpharmer (452893)]

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 - so

Oh come now

[ObiWanStevobi (1030352)]

Rueters is a Wii astroturfing organization and this is just a thinly veiled Trauma ER marketing atttmept. (yes, I'm kidding)

AP is the more likely Nintendo astroturfer

[tepples (727027)]

Rueters is a Wii astroturfing organization

I would think Associated Press, which is probably Reuters' biggest competitor, would be more likely to spread Nintendo astroturf, given that News Channel on Wii is just an AP feed.

Re:

[ObiWanStevobi (1030352)]

Yeah, I was just kidding. Both gaming and surgery require hand-eye cooridnation and the ability to continue to act thoughtfully under pressure, so the study isn't that unbelievable. But when you see an article trying to create a positive link between gaming and surgery, one can't help but think of Trauma Center, since it is one of the most popular Wii eclusives.

Could be good...

[i_should_be_working (720372)]

..could be bad. [xkcd.com]

Re:

[MeanderingMind (884641)]

I was waiting for someone to do the obvious and post the VGCats comic, but you have broken the mold.

As has someone else a few posts below you.

I salute you.

Arrgh

[koreaman (835838)]

Have the media still not figured out that correlation does not necessarily imply causation?

xkcd

[dyefade (735994)]

Finally, an excuse to post this xkcd strip:
http://xkcd.com/c218.html [xkcd.com]

Re:

[Chapter80 (926879)]

Bummer for you, someone beat ya to it!

Groovy.

[Rob T Firefly (844560)]

I'm in favor of surgeons gaming in their spare time, so long as my surgeon is fully aware that I don't have a reset button or a save state.

Re:

[antdude (79039)]

And a cheat option.

Reinforcing what we already know

[oldwindways (934421)]

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.

I for one...

[ProppaT (557551)]

I for one welcome our new, Mountain Dew and Cool Ranch Dorito consuming, surgical overlords!

robots wil turn surgery into real life video games

[teh_chrizzle (963897)]

i work for a surgical research center and minimally invasive robotic surgery will change everything. we use da vincis [brown.edu] 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.

Nice. I wonder...

[erroneus (253617)]

...if the writers of Scrubs is paying attention to this. It could be added to the next season. :)

Like a surgeon...

[the dark hero (971268)]

...fraggin' for the very first time! */wierd al*

Well then...

[Phs2501 (559902)]

This guy [speeddemosarchive.com] is set.