Most medical school students believe that video game technology could help them learn how to be better physicians, according to a study published on Tuesday in BMC Medical Education, HealthDay reports.
The study — conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan — surveyed 200 medical students from the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin.
Survey Results
The survey found that:
98% of respondents believe technology can aid higher learning;
80% believe video games can have educational value (Mozes, HealthDay, 8/11); and
77% believe a multiplayer online health care simulation would be acceptable for learning purposes.
Researchers also found that male students were about four or five times more likely to use video games as learning tools than their female peers (Perna, International Business Times, 8/11).
Study co-author Frederick Kron said that the acceptance of technology in health care training can be attributed to the current generation’s amount of technological literacy.
The study authors also noted that computerized simulation techniques already exist in the medical school environment to train students for a variety of operating room situations (HealthDay, 8/11).
