Fumagalli Luca, Moniakis Alexandros, Pagnamenta Alberto, Cardia Andrea, Cabrilo Ivan
Neurosurgery Department, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland.
Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland.
J Clin Med. 2025 Jul 3;14(13):4719. doi: 10.3390/jcm14134719.
: The potential advantages of robotic assistance in spinal procedures are a growing area of interest, and patient perception plays a key role in its broader acceptance. However, public perception of robotic surgery in spinal operations remains unexplored. This study aims to assess the general public's perceptions, expectations, and concerns regarding robot-assisted spine surgery. : In the fall of 2024, a questionnaire was distributed to attendees at a public open day at the Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, where the Globus ExcelsiusGPS™ spine surgery robot was demonstrated live on a mannequin. The 15-item questionnaire assessed demographic data, prior knowledge of medical robots, mental representations of surgical robots, expectations, and emotions after witnessing the demonstration. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, Wilcoxon, McNemar tests, and logistic regression analysis. : A total of 109 questionnaires were collected. Most participants were female (64.4%) and had no direct experience with spinal pathology (79.8%). While 87.2% were aware of robotic surgery in general, only 65.1% specifically knew about its use in spine surgery. After witnessing the live demonstration, 81.9% felt reassured by the robot's presence in surgery, compared to 61.3% before the demonstration ( = 0.007). Preference for robot-assisted surgery increased from 50.5% to 64.5% ( < 0.001). Notably, individuals with back-related issues showed greater confidence in the robot's capabilities ( = 0.032). : The general public perceives robotic spine surgery positively, viewing it as faster, more precise, and capable of performing tasks not readily performed by humans. The study highlights the importance of live demonstrations in enhancing trust and acceptance of robotic systems. Its findings have economic implications, as patients may be more likely to choose hospitals offering robot-assisted spine surgery. However, it is essential to also acknowledge alternative methods, such as computer-assisted navigation, which has demonstrated efficacy in spine surgery.
机器人辅助脊柱手术的潜在优势是一个日益受到关注的领域，患者的认知在其更广泛的接受度方面起着关键作用。然而，公众对脊柱手术中机器人手术的认知仍未得到探索。本研究旨在评估公众对机器人辅助脊柱手术的看法、期望和担忧。
2024年秋季，一份问卷被分发给瑞士南部神经中心公众开放日的参与者，在那里，Globus ExcelsiusGPS™脊柱手术机器人在人体模型上进行了现场演示。这份包含15个项目的问卷评估了人口统计学数据、对医疗机器人的先验知识、手术机器人的心理表征、期望以及观看演示后的情绪。数据使用描述性统计、卡方检验、威尔科克森检验、麦克尼马尔检验和逻辑回归分析进行分析。
共收集到109份问卷。大多数参与者为女性（64.4%），且没有脊柱疾病的直接经验（79.8%）。虽然87.2%的人总体上了解机器人手术，但只有65.1%的人具体知道其在脊柱手术中的应用。观看现场演示后，表示因手术中有机器人而感到安心的人占81.9%，而演示前这一比例为61.3%（P = 0.007）。对机器人辅助手术的偏好从50.5%增加到64.5%（P < 0.001）。值得注意的是，有背部相关问题的个体对机器人能力表现出更大的信心（P = 0.032）。
公众对机器人脊柱手术持积极看法，认为它更快、更精确，并且能够执行人类不易完成的任务。该研究强调了现场演示在增强对机器人系统的信任和接受度方面的重要性。其研究结果具有经济意义，因为患者可能更倾向于选择提供机器人辅助脊柱手术的医院。然而，同样重要的是要认识到其他方法，如计算机辅助导航，它在脊柱手术中已证明具有疗效。
