The effects of gender, age, and videogame experience on performance and experiences with a surgical robotic arm: an exploratory study with general public

Robotic surgery is increasing in prevalence, thanks to its potential benefits for patients (e.g., reduced blood loss) and surgeons (e.g., ergonomics). It is important to know what inherent characteristics of potential surgeons may facilitate robotic surgery training and performance. Findings from previous studies indicate videogames can be inexpensive tools that help improve hand–eye coordination, coordination of 3-D movements with 2-D images, and spatial orientation. In the context of robotic-assisted knee arthroscopy using a MAKO robotic arm, this study explored performance and subjective experiences of novices ( N = 104) with a fake bone shaving task at a public event. Participants’ performance was measured based on how much of the bone they successfully shaved. Findings showed that duration of videogame play per week was negatively related to performance with the robotic arm. Male and female participants performed similarly on the bone shaving task, and reported similar difficulty with and enjoyment of the task. However, female participants who played videogames performed better than those who did not play videogames. Participants who were younger than 11 had the worst performance and the most difficulty with the robotic arm. Overall, the findings indicate that the effect of videogame experience on the performance with the robotic arm may differ based on gender and age. This has implications on the length of training for surgeons of different gender using videogames and other emerging technologies.