National survey on data governance and digital surgery: Challenges and opportunities for surgeons in the era of artificial intelligence

Introduction: This study evaluates the knowledge of Spanish surgeons regarding data governance and Digital Surgery, their usage, errors, and training deficiencies, as well as differences in knowledge between those who perform robotic surgery and those who do not.

Methods: A descriptive study was conducted using a closed survey promoted by the Minimally Invasive Surgery and Technological Innovation Section of the Spanish Association of Surgeons, directed at its members between February and March 2024.

Results: Out of 1,086 surgeons contacted, 396 responded (36.46%). While 98.3% use electronic medical records, 45.4% lack organized data recording systems. Although 55.9% have access to robotic technology, 70.6% do not use it directly. Surgeons who perform robotic surgery show a higher general knowledge of Digital Surgery terms (7.2 vs 6.619; p = 0.215) and specifically of "Artificial Intelligence" (57.14% compared to less than 25% for other terms), although these differences are not significant. However, there are significant differences in interest in digital technology between those who perform robotic surgery and those who do not (p = 0.023). Additionally, surgeons who support training in digital technology during residency are nearly twice as likely to research Digital Surgery.

Conclusion: Surgeons are crucial for the digital transformation in surgery, but many are poorly prepared and insufficiently involved. Those who practice robotic surgery have more knowledge and interest in digital technology, highlighting the need for improved training and governance frameworks to better integrate surgeons into the digital era.