Video gamers demonstrate superior bronchoscopy skills among beginners

Abstract

While previous research has explored the connection between video gaming and medical procedures, studies on the connection between video gaming and bronchoscopy techniques are lacking. This study aimed to investigate how video gaming experience influences bronchoscopy skills, particularly among beginners. This study was conducted at Fukujuji Hospital from January 2021 to October 2023. Twenty-three participants were assigned to the inexperienced group, and eighteen participants were assigned to the experienced group. The observational time during bronchoscopy, measured using a simulator, and the playing time of SPLATOON 2 (NINTENDO Co. Ltd., Japan) were analyzed. Video gaming skills were assessed based on game completion time, with shorter times indicating faster task completion. Participants were also divided into gamer and nongamer subgroups for further comparisons. A moderate linear relationship existed between bronchoscopic observation time and game completion time in the inexperienced group (r = 0.453, p = 0.030). However, no correlation was found in the experienced group (r = 0.268, p = 0.283). Among the inexperienced group, the gamer subgroup (n = 12) exhibited significantly shorter bronchoscopic observation times than did the nongamer subgroup (n = 11) (median [range]: 200 [129-229] s) vs. 281 [184-342] s, p = 0.005). This study demonstrated a relationship between bronchoscopy technique and video gaming skills among individuals with little bronchoscopy experience.

Figure 1

Pearson’s correlation analysis of the relationship between bronchoscopic observation time and game completion time among participants. (A) Within the inexperienced group, there was a moderate linear relationship between bronchoscopic observation time and game completion time (r = 0.453, p = 0.030). (B) Within the experienced group, no correlation was found between bronchoscopic observation time and game completion time (r = 0.268, p = 0.283).

Figure 2

Comparison of bronchoscopic observation time and game completion time between the gamer subgroup (n = 12) and nongamer subgroup (n = 11) within the inexperienced group. (A) The bronchoscopic observation time in the gamer subgroup was significantly shorter than that in the nongamer subgroup (median [range]: 200 [129–229] s vs. 281 [184–342] s, p = 0.005). (B) The game completion time was shorter in the gamer subgroup than in the nongamer subgroup (median [range]: 34 [22–47] s vs. 93 [41–153] s, p < 0.001).