Effects of videogame experience on laparoscopic skill acquisition

The apprenticeship model used to teach surgical residents is no longer adequate, especially in laparoscopic surgery training. The other alternatives available, such as simulators or animal models, can be expensive and difficult to implement. This study was conducted to explore the effect of videogame experience on surgical skill acquisition. We hypothesized that a week of videogame playing would improve performance on a surgical skills trainer and that performance on the videogame would reflect performance on the trainer. Thirty participants were tested in a between-subjects mixed design. Results were inconclusive. However, the use of videogames for training may be justified given the minimal cost. The idea of training surgeons using an inexpensive technology that is familiar, and that is fun and engaging at the same time, has considerable potential for the field of training in surgery.