Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Robotic surgery is playing an increasingly prominent role in modern medicine; however, its perception and knowledge levels may differ across generations. Our aim was to assess the knowledge, expectations, and attitudes of laypersons and healthcare professionals regarding robotic surgery, and to identify the demographic and sociological factors that determine trust toward this technology.
METHODS: Our cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted online via Google Forms between January and March 2025. Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria (excluding incomplete or incorrectly filled questionnaires), the final sample consisted of 170 respondents (laypersons: n=97, healthcare professionals: n=73). The questionnaire measured technological awareness, subjective trust, and decision-making preferences. Data analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel, applying descriptive statistics, two-sample t-tests, and regression analysis (p<0.05).
RESULTS: Healthcare professionals demonstrated significantly higher levels of knowledge regarding the technology (p=0.002). Knowledge levels significantly influenced overall attitude (r=0.459, p<0.001). A significant, moderately strong negative correlation was found between age and the willingness to undergo robotic surgery (r=-0.432; p<0.001). Furthermore, the rate of positive attitude was significantly higher among individuals who obtained information from professional sources (p=0.037) compared to those relying on popular media.
CONCLUSIONS: The acceptance of robotic surgery is age-dependent, and the key to increasing trust lies in targeted, profession-based patient education. During the training of healthcare professionals, emphasis must be placed on communicating technological realities and continuous surgical control in order to effectively mitigate patient anxiety.