London - Parents should think twice before banning their children from using game consoles – particularly if they want them to become a surgeon.
Just a few weeks playing on a Nintendo Wii helped doctors “significantly improve” their surgical skills, making them faster and more efficient when undertaking delicate procedures.
A study found that playing on a console for an hour a day boosted the speed at which surgeons performed keyhole operations. It also improved the accuracy of their procedures by up to 65 percent compared to doctors who only undertook conventional training.
Researchers suggest that using a Wii alongside standard teaching methods could be an “inexpensive and entertaining” way to optimise their learning.
The University of Rome study involving 42 surgeons was published in the journal PLOS ONE. - Daily Mail