A surgeon is a medical professional who specializes in evaluating and treating conditions that may necessitate surgery or physical changes to the human body. Surgical procedures can be used to diagnose or treat disease or injury. Surgeons lead a team of other doctors and nurses in the operating room to ensure a procedure goes smoothly. Do you know how video games help surgeons?
Surgeons who play video games at least 3-4 hours per week make 37 percent fewer errors and work 27 percent faster than those who don’t.
The Pros and Cons of Video Gaming for Surgeons
Some studies show video gaming can be an excellent way to train surgeons to be the best at their jobs. You may be wondering how this is possible, and this article will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this argument.
The Pros
Enhances Fine Motor Skills
To begin, gaming necessitates hand dexterity to move objects and people around the screen quickly and reactively using the controller. Similarly, fine motor skills are required to carry out tasks in surgery, even if these tasks are life and death. There is some link between gaming and practicing a manual skill to aid surgery.
According to several studies, gaming can even be a form of rehabilitation for people who have difficulty mastering their fine motor skills. Video gaming, for example, has been linked to improved neuroplasticity in people with Cerebral Palsy. The same logic applies to surgeons, who may master their motor skills faster by gaming.
Enhances and Develops Multi-Tasking
Even when using the controller alone, the gamer must be able to multitask by using the ABXY keys and joystick/arrows simultaneously. This skill can be applied in the surgical field, where both hands must work together to achieve the desired result.
It Boosts Precision
The goal of video games is to use small tools to achieve a larger goal via a screen. This may be applicable in the surgical field, where task precision is critical.
The goal of video games is to use small tools to achieve a larger goal via a screen. This may be applicable in the surgical field, where task precision is critical.
Enhances Problem Solving and Adaptability
Gaming, like surgery, necessitates the ability to think on one’s feet in response to various factors and environments. Each level of gaming necessitates a new strategy to win, and problems can arise anytime during surgery. Responding to these problems quickly and accurately is critical to saving lives.
(Source: National Library of Medicine)
The Cons
It is Not That Reliable
Although it may appear to all the gamers out there that their gaming prowess will make them good surgeons, this is not the case. It is deceptive to believe that one factor contributes to a great surgeon’s ability. Instead, numerous skills and requirements can simply be improved through gaming ability.
Finally, we cannot rely on gaming to train surgeons. It should simply be something that surgeons do in their spare time to keep their manual dexterity and problem-solving abilities sharp. (Source: National Library of Medicine)
Image from Laroscopyhospital