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August 13, 2010

Med Students Want More Video Games for Medical Education


Medical students reported highly positive attitudes about the use of new media technology and video games in medical education, whether or not they identified themselves as game players. Researchers gave an anonymous 30-item cross-sectional survey to 217 medical students from University of Michigan and University of Wisconsin; 77% indicated they would use a multiplayer online healthcare simulation on their own time if it helped them accomplish an important goal.

Virtually all (98%) of the students liked the general idea of using technology to enhance healthcare education; 96% felt that education should make better use of new media technologies. Eighty percent felt that video games can have educational value.

While men and women agreed that they would be most likely to use multiplayer simulations if they were fun (97%) and helped to develop skill in patient interactions (90%), there were significant gender differences. Men and women differed in the types of games they preferred, the educational value they placed on video games, and the desire to participate in games that realistically replicated the experience of clinical practice.

Nearly 97% of the respondents considered themselves to be intermediate or advanced users of computers and 99.5% reported having broadband access to the internet. However, 70% reported that their time spent playing games had decreased since entering medical school.

Men were more than four times more likely than women to play video games, and men and women preferred different kinds of games. For example, women were more likely to prefer puzzle games, but were only 3% as likely as men to play shooter games. The researchers warned that gender differences in gaming attitudes might be reflect design bias that stresses male cognitive aptitudes; they advised medical educators to create serious games that would appeal to both men and women. Via Biomed Central.


Ms. Graham is a writer and editor with a current focus on health and wellness. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Erin Monda
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