Analysing public sentiment towards robotic surgery: an X (formerly Twitter) based study

The surgical field is always evolving, as new techniques and tools are developed. Robotic technology has been playing an important role in surgical procedures, especially in complex surgeries. Robotic surgery is intricately connected with minimally invasive procedures, where surgeries are performed through small incisions. It may also find occasional use in different categories of open surgeries. There are many benefits to robotic surgery, including that it is minimally invasive and can be done without incision. The downside to robotic surgery is that it can be expensive, and the quality of the results may not be good. Advancements in robotics are introducing fresh benefits to the operating room. Nevertheless, there are concerns voiced by individuals about the safety and effectiveness of robotic surgery. In order to gain a better understanding of these issues, an exploration was carried out involving sentiment analysis of online discussions concerning robotic surgery. This analysis focused on tweets shared on X (formerly Twitter). Furthermore, this research paper utilizes “RoboSens” algorithm which is a domain-specific customization based on the VADER sentiment analysis model, specifically tailored to analyze public opinion on robotic surgery using X data. The majority of X users worldwide (44.3%) were found to have a neutral opinion of robotic surgery. These people did not completely discourage robotic surgery but are still reluctant to accept it in all types of surgical treatments. Around 39.3% of people worldwide feel enthusiastic about robotic surgery while 16.4% completely discourage it.