RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Impact of video games on ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia skills
JF Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine
JO Reg Anesth Pain Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 860
OP 865
DO 10.1136/rapm-2020-101641
VO 45
IS 11
A1 Atif Shafqat
A1 Shumaila Mukarram
A1 Nigel M Bedforth
A1 Jonathan G Hardman
A1 Robert A McCahon
YR 2020
UL http://rapm.bmj.com/content/45/11/860.abstract
AB Background There is an association between video game practice and laparoscopic expertize in trainee surgeons. Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia has many parallels with laparoscopic surgery. The aim of this study was to explore whether video game experience is associated with enhanced performance in a simulated ultrasound-guided task in novice operators.Methods In this prospective observational study, 60 medical student volunteers were recruited. Following characterization of video game experience, they underwent an assessment of visuospatial abilities. Following standardized teaching, the recruits’ technical performance of an ultrasound-guided needle task was assessed for overall quality by global rating scale (GRS).Results Out of a total possible GRS score of 35, gamers compared with non-gamers demonstrated 5.2 (95% CI 1.9 to 8.4) units of better performance. Gamers also performed better in mental rotation test scores (difference 4.1, 95% CI 1.2 to 7.0) .Conclusion Video game practice is associated with increased mental rotation ability and enhanced technical performance in a simulated ultrasound-guided task.