Knowledge and attitudes of Syrian medical students regarding robotic surgery: A cross sectional study

Sarya Swed; Haidara Bohsas; Hidar Alibrahim; Amine Rakab; Noheir A.I. Hassan; Mohamed Nour Nasif; Huzaifa Ahmad Cheema; Bisher Sawaf; Mohamed Elsayed; Mohammad Ebad Ur Rehman; Sheikh Shoib; Mohammad Badr Almoshantaf; Wael Hafez

doi:10.61838/kman.najm.1.2.6

Authors

Sarya Swed Faculty of Medicine Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9983-2020
Haidara Bohsas Faculty of Medicine Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2134-3988
Hidar Alibrahim Faculty of Medicine Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8185-9954
Amine Rakab Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Qatar Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0120-0939
Noheir A.I. Hassan Aswan University, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan, Egypt Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6814-2601
Mohamed Nour Nasif Faculty of Medicine Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9909-8065
Huzaifa Ahmad Cheema Department of Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan Author
Bisher Sawaf Department of Internal Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6751-619X
Mohamed Elsayed Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8939-3477
Mohammad Ebad Ur Rehman Department of Medicine, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6495-5434
Sheikh Shoib Department of Health Services, Srinagar, 190001 India Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3739-706X
Mohammad Badr Almoshantaf Faculty of Medicine - Damascus University. Damascus. Syria. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7369-8978
Wael Hafez NMC Royal Hospital, 16th Street, Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates UAE Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1203-0808

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.najm.1.2.6

Keywords:

Cross-sectional analysis, Healthcare technology, Medical education, Surgical innovation, Syrian healthcare, Technological acceptance

Abstract

Background: Robotic surgery represents a significant advancement in modern medical procedures, offering enhanced precision, control, and flexibility beyond human capabilities. Despite its growing prominence globally, the adoption and perception of robotic surgery in various regions, particularly in countries like Syria remain underexplored.

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of Syrian Arab republic medical students concerning robotic surgery.

Methods: An online cross-sectional study was conducted in Syria from 5 April to 17 may, 2022. The research included undergraduate medical students from government and private Syrian universities. The questionnaire was taken from a previous study and then modified to suit Syrian students, which was used to assess attitudes about robotic surgery.

Results: 862 medical students from governmental (92.2%) and private (7.8%) medical colleges filled out the online survey. 40.8% were interested in surgery specialties and, nearly half (46.3%) considered themselves as no tech-savvy persons. However, just 22.6% had prior robotic surgical knowledge, where the largest source of knowledge was the internet. A majority of the students (57.3%) had a favorable attitude toward robotic surgery, and 59.1% of them believed that the use of robots will lead to improvements in the results of surgical procedures. 40% of the participants considered that Syrian patients would not accept it. Furthermore, 40% were worried that robots could take the place of surgeons in the future, and (50.6%) believe this might make surgeons weak, hesitant, and less professional.

Conclusion: A large number of medical students in Syria have no experience with robotic surgery and know nothing about the procedures. Several recommendations should be made to improve clinical teaching using modern technology and robotic surgery, particularly for medical students interested in surgery.