Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Jul 3, 2025
Open Peer Review Period: Jul 3, 2025 - Aug 28, 2025
Date Accepted: Nov 20, 2025
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Impact of video games on fundamental technical capabilities during the preclinical training phase of dental students: a preliminary study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Video games are becoming increasingly accessible and occupy a position of prominence among students' leisure activities. Recent studies have demonstrated that engagement with video games can facilitate the development of specific abilities in users, including visual-spatial representation and coordination.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to ascertain whether dental students exhibiting characteristics associated with the gamer profile exhibited divergent fundamental technical skills in comparison to students with characteristics associated with the non-gamer profile. This preliminary study aims to validate or amend our measurement tools for a subsequent prospective study.
Methods:
A total of 92 second-year dental students, who were novices in the field of videogame practice, were divided into two groups: one designated "non-players" and the other "players". The visual motor and cognitive coordination of the students was assessed using three different tests. The initial assessment focused on evaluating spatial ability, while the subsequent assessments addressed arm-hand coordination and the velocity of execution. The study data were collected in September 2021.
Results:
The findings of the study revealed that there was no statistically significant discrepancy between the two groups, i.e. "players" and "non-players", when the three distinct tests were administered.
Conclusions:
The present study did not demonstrate a significant discrepancy between the profiles of dental students who participated in the study and those who did not, with regard to their fundamental technical abilities in a preclinical training environment. Nevertheless, it facilitated the validation of a methodology for a future longitudinal study that would concentrate on the evolution of acquiring technical skills during pre-clinical training in these two populations. Consequently, it is imperative to observe the impact of video games on the acquisition of surgical skills, including in dentistry, and further investigations are required to conclude this matter.
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Copyright
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