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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT07744399

Effect of Mobile Video Games on Laparoscopic Simulation Skills in Medical Students

This study evaluated whether regular mobile video game play could improve laparoscopic simulation performance among medical students without prior surgical or simulation experience. Thirty first-, second-, and third-year medical students were randomly assigned to either a mobile gaming intervention group or a control group. All participants received standardized training using the Simbionix LAP Mentor™ laparoscopic simulator and completed baseline assessments of hand-eye coordination, suture placement, and bimanual maneuver tasks. During the subsequent three-week intervention period, participants in the intervention group played selected mobile games (DATA WING™ and Aim Lab Mobile™) for at least 30 minutes daily, while the control group was instructed not to play mobile games. After the intervention, all participants repeated the same laparoscopic simulation tasks. The primary objective was to determine whether mobile gaming improved laparoscopic performance, as measured by task completion time and performance accuracy. The findings of this study may help clarify whether inexpensive and widely accessible mobile games can serve as an adjunct to simulation-based surgical education for novice medical students.

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Key information

Conditions

Laparoscopic Skills Acquisition Medical Students Simulation Training, Laparoscopy Surgical Education and Skill Acquisition

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Marmara University School of Medicine

Istanbul, 34854, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Medical students enrolled in the first, second, or third year of medical school.
  • No previous real surgical experience.
  • No previous virtual or laparoscopic simulation training experience.
  • Self-reported mobile game use of less than 3 hours per week before enrollment.
  • Ability and willingness to provide informed consent.
  • Voluntary participation in the study.

Exclusion criteria

  • Previous real surgical experience.
  • Previous virtual or simulated surgical training.
  • Mobile game use of 3 hours or more per week before enrollment.
  • Failure or unwillingness to provide informed consent.
  • Withdrawal of consent during the study.

Treatment and study plan

Mobile Phone Gaming

Behavioral

Participants played DATA WING™ and Aim Lab Mobile™ on a mobile device for at least 30 minutes per day over 3 weeks. The intervention was designed to evaluate whether regular mobile gaming improves laparoscopic simulation performance in novice medical students.

Other names: Mobile Phone Game Training

Primary outcomes

  1. Hand-eye coordination task completion time

    Time frame: Baseline and 3 weeks

    Change in completion time for the hand-eye coordination module of the Simbionix LAP Mentor™ laparoscopic simulator from baseline to 3 weeks.

  2. Suture placement task completion time

    Time frame: Baseline and 3 weeks

    Change in completion time for the suture placement module of the Simbionix LAP Mentor™ laparoscopic simulator from baseline to 3 weeks.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Laparoscopic simulation performance accuracy

    Time frame: Baseline and 3 weeks

    Change in accuracy scores for the hand-eye coordination, suture placement, and bimanual maneuver modules of the Simbionix LAP Mentor™ laparoscopic simulator from baseline to 3 weeks.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Marmara University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Do Mobile Video Games Contribute to Improving Laparoscopic Surgical Skills of Medical Students? A Simulation-Based Study

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Aug 4, 2026
Registry last updated
Aug 4, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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