What Patients Think About Robot-Assisted Surgery: Lessons to Learn from the Awareness and Perception Study in Mumbai

We attempt to understand our patients’ awareness and perception about robot-assisted surgery (RAS), to be able to educate them better and help them make informed decisions.

Patients who visited the Obstetrics & Gynaecology out-patient department were given questionnaires. Two hundred and sixty-two completed questionnaires were analysed.

Comfort with technology was significantly associated with the patients’ knowledge of the robot’s appearance. Correct identification of the meaning of RAS, the surgeon’s role, and appearance of the robot were also individually associated with preference towards RAS. Those who had undergone RAS before favoured it significantly more than those who did not have a history of RAS.

Counselling is important to help patients get over misinformation. Patients need to be explained that the robot does not have autonomy. The three main concepts to be focused on are—meaning of robotic surgery, surgeon’s position/role during the surgery, and appearance of the robot. Limitations also need to be discussed.