# Assessment of Knowledge, Awareness, and Perceptions of Robotic-Assisted Surgery Among the Adult Population in the United Arab Emirates

## TL;DR

This study finds that most people in the UAE lack awareness of robotic-assisted surgery, with knowledge linked to education, occupation, and tech skills.

## Contribution

The study identifies key demographic factors influencing RAS awareness in the UAE and advocates for targeted public education.

## Key findings

- 81.1% of respondents had inadequate awareness of robotic-assisted surgery.
- Medical professionals and those with postgraduate education showed higher RAS awareness.
- Technologically literate individuals were 2.5 times more likely to know about RAS.

## Abstract

Background: Successful adoption of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) requires acceptance not only from healthcare organizations that implement these technologies but also from the general public, who would ultimately undergo such procedures. This study aimed to assess public awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of RAS in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 433 adults aged 18 years and above residing in the UAE between September 2021 and March 2023. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling through social media platforms. Data were collected using a 20-item self-administered questionnaire assessing knowledge, awareness, and perceptions of RAS. Responses were anonymized to ensure confidentiality. Data were analyzed in SPSS Statistics version 22 (IBM Corp. Released 2013. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.) and summarized using descriptive statistics; associations between variables were assessed using inferential tests.

Results: The majority of respondents (81.1%, n = 351) demonstrated inadequate awareness of RAS. Awareness was significantly associated with occupation, education level, and technology literacy. Individuals working in medical fields showed significantly higher levels of awareness than those in non-medical fields (25.4% vs. 15.8%; p = 0.028). Participants with postgraduate education had higher awareness (30.4%) than those with bachelor's degrees (16.8%; p = 0.034). Technological literacy also played a major role: participants proficient with technology were 2.5 times more likely to have adequate RAS knowledge (p = 0.003). Respondents with adequate knowledge were 14.5 times more likely to consider undergoing RAS compared to those with inadequate knowledge (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Public awareness of RAS in the UAE remains low and is influenced by educational background, occupation, and technological literacy. Targeted public education efforts are recommended to improve awareness and acceptance of RAS.