IJCM_277A: Awareness, Perception and Attitude of Medical Interns and Graduates Towards Robotic Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Robotic surgery is a novel venture in medical sciences that uses robotic systems to assist and carry out surgical procedures and is one of the most discussed topics in surgery today. However, there is paucity of information regarding awareness, attitude and perceptions related to robotic surgery among the future surgical care providers (i.e., interns and postgraduates). Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out among all the Medical Interns and the Postgraduates posted in the surgical Departments of KMC Mangalore (General Surgery, OBG, ENT, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics and Anaesthesia) using Universal sampling technique and data were collected using a semi-structured, pre-validated questionnaire consisting of two sections. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 25. The results were summarized as percentages, tables and figures. For comparison across the groups chi-square test was used and a value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: One hundred sixty-nine Interns and surgical Postgraduates were included in total in the study with a mean age of 25 years. Among the study participants,57.3% (n=59) of Interns and 57.6% (n=38) of Postgraduates have seen robotic surgery being performed in the past. More than half of the study participants, 66%(n=68) interns and 72.7%(n=48) postgraduates were aware of the Da Vinci robotic surgical system. Among the challenges for mainstreaming robotic surgery, cost was the most important concern among 53.3% (n=57) interns and 53%(n=35) postgraduates. Conclusion: In our study majority of the participants, Interns (64.1%) and Post graduates (84.8%) had a positive outlook towards robotic surgery & believed cost (55.3 % Interns and 53% Post graduates) was one of the major constrains limiting its use