Surgical trainee experience and opinion of robotic surgery in surgical training and vision for the future: a snapshot study of pan-specialty surgical trainees

Background: Robotic surgery is well established across multiple surgical specialities in the United Kingdom (UK) and Republic of Ireland (ROI). We aimed to elucidate current surgical trainee experience of and attitudes to robotic surgery in a surgical training programme across the UK and ROI to determine the future role of robotic surgery in international surgical training programmes. Methods: A pan-specialty trainee cross-sectional study was performed on behalf of the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) using mixed-methodology. Round 1: a digital questionnaire was disseminated to all ASiT members. Round 2: ‘live-polling’ was performed prior to and following the Robotic Surgery plenary session convened at the ASiT 2020 International Conference (Birmingham). Data analysis was performed using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. Results: Three hundred and four responses were analysed (n = 244 digital questionnaire, n = 60 live-polling). Overall, 73.8% (n = 180) of trainees would value greater access to robotic surgery training. 73.4% (n = 179) believed that robotic surgery was important for the future of their desired specialty and 77.2% (n = 156) believed it should be incorporated into formal surgical training. Qualitative analysis identified that trainees believe that robotic training should have a formal role in surgical training. Perceived disadvantages of robotic surgery experience in surgical training included expense and the current impact of consultant robotic learning curves on training. Conclusion: Current surgical trainees desire greater access to robotic surgery in surgical training. Robotic surgery is developing an increasing role in current surgical practice and it is important that it is introduced in a timely, evidence-based fashion to surgical trainees at an appropriate stage of training.