By For a long time, gaming was diabolized and accused of corrupting young gamers. However, new research and studies show that gaming can actually be helpful and beneficial for individuals.
Even hospital patients could benefit from gaming once in a while. Gaming can be a great option to keep patients entertained and amused as they patiently wait to recover from their physical illness or pains.
This article will explore the other ways in which gaming can positively impact patients and their mood. Of course, as with any other hobby or activity, individuals can’t have too much of a good thing.
Gaming is great but it is best enjoyed in a moderate way and not in an excessive fashion.
Gaming’s positive impacts
Here are some of the positive impacts that gaming can have on patients.
1. It improves patients’ mood and lowers their stress levels
It is important to remember that gaming is, first and foremost, a hobby. And, as with all hobbies, it has a number of positive effects.
Studies have shown that hobbies help individuals improve their mental health and have a more balanced life. Hobbies can therefore help those struggling with depression, low mood, and stress.
They provide some relief and offer a fun, stress free activity for individuals to enjoy.
In the healthcare industry, offering games to patients could help boost patients’ energy levels, improve their mood and lower their stress levels.
Lowering a patient’s stress levels is particularly important in the healthcare industry. A patient who is more relaxed will be able to rest better and therefore heal quicker.
They will also be easier to care for which will make healthcare workers’ jobs easier.
For that to work, patients would have to actively enjoy gaming otherwise it wouldn’t have the positive effects of a ‘hobby’.
To find the type of game that they enjoy, patients can try out different games. They can try board games available in the hospital or healthcare center they are staying at.
They can also try online games available for free on virtual platforms. For example, they can play the Eye of Horus slot game at Virgin Games.
If that doesn’t suit their needs, they can test different online games available on mobile apps. These include chess, strategy games, puzzles, word games, and more.
There are many other options to choose from. Each player can find something that suits their personal taste and preferences.
2. It improves patients’ memory and other cognitive skills
Gaming can also improve patients’ cognitive skills. As a quick refresher, cognitive skills include:
- perception
- attention
- memory
- learning
- decision-making
- language abilities
Many games include some or all of the cognitive skills listed above. They help players exercise their memory, force them to pay close attention to the game and to work on developing quick decision-making and learning skills.
Learning a new game is therefore a great way for patients to improve their cognitive skills and make sure they exercise these muscles as much as possible.
Gaming can be particularly beneficial for individuals who are about to go through surgery or have just gone through it. It can serve as a good form of cognitive re-education.
Again, this depends on the type of games as some games are more efficient in terms of cognitive re-education such as language/word games and memory games.
3. It can be used as a therapy tool
Video games have already been used as a sort of therapy tool in different contexts. For example, it has been used as a form of physiotherapy and occupational therapy in some medical contexts.
In several cases, video games were used as a sort of physiotherapy for arm injuries and other physical pains.
With Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), video games are increasingly used as therapeutic tools.
They have been used on individuals with strong and disabling phobias. By exposing the patient to the object of their phobia via a VR headset, doctors can help patients get over their fear.
This is now called Virtual Reality Therapy and it uses cognitive behavioral therapy methods to help patients overcome their phobia.
Not all games work for treating phobias and some doctors even have a specific game or landscape designed to fit the patient’s specific needs.
Precautions with gaming in the healthcare industry
As with all new uses and treatments, healthcare professionals and individuals should be careful when using gaming as a therapeutic tool. Gaming can also be unhealthy if relied on excessively.
Many studies are also revealing that gaming is unhealthy for young children and teenagers. Light or moderate use of gaming is acceptable but should be closely monitored.
Research shows that children and teenagers are more likely to become addicted to video games and that these games can lead to increased aggressiveness. However, this would depend on the type of game being played and the frequency of gaming.
Healthcare professionals should keep an eye out for any excessive gaming usage to make sure that only the positive effects of gaming are reaped.
Final thoughts
This article discussed the different ways that gaming can impact patients. Overall, gaming seems to have a positive impact on patients and can really contribute to their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
However, as mentioned before, patients’ gaming habits and gaming frequency should be monitored to make sure that they are not being negatively impacted and that they are not gaming excessively.
