Playing video games could hinder academic performance in male medical students, according to a recent JMIR study conducted in India. 

Researchers found that male medical students who played video games had a heightened risk of low midterm scores in comparison to their counterparts who did not play games. However, the same was not demonstrated for women. 

“The findings suggest that excessive gaming adversely affects the scholastic performance of male participants more than female participants. Awareness about gaming disorder needs to be created among students, parents and teachers. Treatment services should be made available to medical students with gaming disorders,” authors of the study wrote. 

TOP LINE DATA

Researchers found that the mean midterm assessment score of participants who played video games was 5.2% lower than the control group in the first assessment and 4.1% lower in the second assessment. 

This difference was particularly pronounced in the male subject population. Males in the gaming group had a significantly lower mean score of 9.5% on the first internal assessment and 8.4% on the second internal assessment compared with men in the control group. 

Meanwhile, women who gamed only had a 0.6% lower score on both internal assessments compared with their female counterparts who didn’t play video games. 

The amount of time spent gaming, however, was not associated with mean internal assessment score. 

Researchers found that 31% of individuals in the video game group had gaming disorder, as measured by the Gaming Addiction Scale. 

HOW IT WAS DONE

Researchers recruited 448 medical undergraduate students in the preliminary survey. Out of that group, the study included 91 medical students who reported gaming in the last six months, and 91 who said they had not played in that time frame. Researchers then matched for age and gender on a 1:1 ratio. 

The academic scores were based on two midterms that were completed in the last six months. 

THE BACKGROUND 

Researchers noted that gaming disorders can lead to performance issues. 

“The medical curriculum is vast and requires extensive reading and dedication. In such circumstances, indulgence in excessive gaming among students can lead to gaming disorder, which can affect their scholastic performance,” the authors wrote. 

However, gamification has also been used to help train new doctors. In fact, in April an Australian virtual reality company landed $100,000 from Epic Games to develop simulator-style technology to help doctors and students practice and perfect operations.