Abstract
Background
Studies using conventional consoles have suggested a possible link between video-gaming and laparoscopic skill. The authors hypothesized that the Nintendo Wii, with its motion-sensing interface, would provide a better model for laparoscopic tasks. This study investigated the relationship between Nintendo Wii skill, prior gaming experience, and laparoscopic skill.
Methods
In this study, 20 participants who had minimal experience with either laparoscopic surgery or Nintendo Wii performed three tasks on a Webcam-based laparoscopic simulator and were assessed on three games on the Wii. The participants completed a questionnaire assessing prior gaming experience.
Results
The score for each of the three Wii games correlated positively with the laparoscopic score (r = 0.78, 0.63, 0.77; P < 0.001), as did the combined Wii score (r = 0.82; P < 0.001). The participants in the top tertile of Wii performance scored 60.3% higher on the laparoscopic tasks than those in the bottom tertile (P < 0.01). Partial correlation analysis with control for the effect of prior gaming experience showed a significant positive correlation between the Wii score and the laparoscopic score (r = 0.713; P < 0.001). Prior gaming experience also correlated positively with the laparoscopic score (r = 0.578; P < 0.01), but no significant difference in the laparoscopic score was observed when the participants in the top tertile of experience were compared with those in the bottom tertile (P = 0.26).
Conclusions
The study findings suggest a skill overlap between the Nintendo Wii and basic laparoscopic tasks. Surgical candidates with advanced Nintendo Wii ability may possess higher baseline laparoscopic ability.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank Dr. Faisal Basheer for the use of his Nintendo Wii console in this study.
Disclosures
Shiraz Badurdeen, Giles Story, Omar Abdul-Samad, Clare Wilson, Sue Down and Adrian Harris have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.
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S. Badurdeen, O. Abdul-Samad, G. Story, and C. Wilson have equally contributed to this work. S. Down and A. Harris supervised the project and edited the manuscript.
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Badurdeen, S., Abdul-Samad, O., Story, G. et al. Nintendo Wii video-gaming ability predicts laparoscopic skill. Surg Endosc 24, 1824–1828 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-009-0862-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-009-0862-z