title: Effect of computer game playing on baseline laparoscopic simulator skills.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies examining the possible association between computer game playing and laparoscopic performance in general have yielded conflicting results and neither has a relationship between computer game playing and baseline performance on laparoscopic simulators been established.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the possible association between previous and present computer game playing and baseline performance on a virtual reality laparoscopic performance in a sample of potential future medical students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participating students completed a questionnaire covering the weekly amount and type of computer game playing activity during the previous year and 3 years ago. They then performed 2 repetitions of 2 tasks ("gallbladder dissection" and "traverse tube") on a virtual reality laparoscopic simulator. Performance on the simulator were then analyzed for association to their computer game experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  Local high school, Norway.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight students from 2 high school classes volunteered to participate in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No association between prior and present computer game playing and baseline performance was found. The results were similar both for prior and present action game playing and prior and present computer game playing in general.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that prior and present computer game playing may not affect baseline performance in a virtual reality simulator.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway. hermanhalvorsen@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Fredrik H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Halvorsen
authors.forename: Milada
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cvancarova
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fosse
authors.forename: Odd
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mjåland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004210:Dissection / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D018910:Video Games; D055815:Young Adult