A study on the experiences of physicians on robotic surgery applications

Today's healthcare services have entered a period of radical transformation due to the rapid development of technology. One of the most striking examples of this transformation is the use of robotic technologies in surgical practices. Robotic surgery, beyond being a mere technical innovation, brings about structural changes in many areas ranging from the functioning of healthcare systems to the professional practices of surgeons, from patient safety to healthcare economics. In this context, the present study aims to reveal the current state of robotic surgery in Turkey through the experiences of surgeons. The qualitative research method was used in the study. The participants were selected using criterion sampling, one of the purposive sampling methods. Within this framework, interviews were conducted with a total of 24 participants, including 8 urologists, 5 general surgeons, 3 thoracic surgeons, 3 gynecologists, 2 cardiovascular surgeons, 2 gastroenterologists, and 1 neurosurgeon. A qualitative research approach was adopted, and in-depth interview technique was utilized with a semi-structured interview form. The interview form included questions addressing the reasons for choosing robotic surgery and influencing factors, experiences with robotic surgery, its advantages and disadvantages, potential future scenarios, suggestions for improvement, and comparisons with other surgical methods. The research was designed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis approach, and thematic data analysis was employed as the analysis technique. The findings indicate that individual, institutional, and systemic factors, as well as cost-effectiveness discussions, educational deficiencies, ethical concerns, and policy needs play a role in surgeons' orientation toward robotic surgery. Factors such as academic prestige, patient demand, institutional incentives, and competitive pressure were identified as key motivators. High costs were criticized for creating inequalities in healthcare access, while unclear training processes and lack of standard certification were seen as major barriers to widespread implementation. Robotic surgery was emphasized not only as a technical innovation but also as a transformative element of professional identity, with ethical concerns growing in parallel with artificial intelligence integration. To ensure sustainability, recommendations were made to enhance training infrastructure, strengthen public-private cooperation, conduct cost-effectiveness analyses, and establish ethical oversight mechanisms.