Should Robotic Surgery Training Become a General Surgery Residency Requirement? A National Survey of Program Directors in Surgery

Abstract

Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) accounts for 15% of general surgery (GS) operations performed and is set to grow in prevalence. Currently, there are no training requirements or standard robotic curricula for GS residents. This study aimed to query GS program directors (PDs) on the necessity, extent, and potential impact of including RAS as a required component of residency training. Analysis of responses to a 14-question web-based survey. Survey was distributed to PDs via the Association of Program Directors in Surgery listserv in April and May 2021. General surgery program directors RESULTS: Among 140 respondents, 110 (78.6%) agreed that operating at the robotic console should be a GS residency requirement, yet 93 (66.4%) indicated that RAS exposure negatively impacts the acquisition of other necessary skills. Still, 116 (82.9%) agreed that RAS training provided a net benefit to GS residents, PDs at academic programs were more supportive than those at independent programs of RAS console training requirements (68.2% versus 46.7%, p = 0.048). The median response to the ideal proportion of abdominopelvic cases performed by graduation was 20% robotic, 40% laparoscopic, and 35% open. The suggested minimum number of robotic cases that should be performed by graduation was indicated to be 30 cases by 26% of respondents, 20 by 23%, 10 by 12%, 5 by 4%, and "no minimum" by 36%. There is strong interest among PDs to institute RAS training requirements for GS residents. This study provides PD perspectives to help inform national conversations on whether and to what extent RAS requirements should be included in GS residency training.