JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Increasingly intelligent and autonomous robots are destined to have a huge impact on our society. Their adoption, however, represents a major change to the healthcare sector’s traditional practices, which, in turn, poses certain challenges. To what extent is it possible to foresee a near-future scenario in which minor routine surgery is directed by robots? And what are the patients’ or general public’s perceptions of having surgical procedures performed on them by robots, be it totally or partially? A patient’s trust in robots and AI may facilitate the spread and use of such technologies.

Objective:

The goal of our study was to establish the factors that influence how people feel about having a medical operation performed on them by a robot.

Methods:

We used data from a 2017 Flash Eurobarometer (number 460) of European Commission with 27,901 citizens aged 15 years and over in the 28 countries of the European Union. The research designs and tests a technology acceptance model (TAM). Logistic regression (odds ratios, OR) to model the predictors of trust in robot-assisted surgery was calculated through motivational factors, robots using experience and sociodemographic independent variables.

Results:

The negative relationship between most of the predictors of ease of use, expected benefits and attitude towards robots, and confidence in robot-assisted surgery was contrasted. The only non-sociodemographic predictor variable that has a positive relationship with trust in robots participating in a surgical intervention is previous experience in the use of robots. In this context, we analyze the confidence predictors for three different levels of robot use experience (zero use, average use, and high use). The results obtained indicate that, as the experience of using robots increases, the predictive coefficients related to information, attitude and perception of robots become more negative. Research results also determined that variables of a sociodemographic nature played an important predictive role. It was confirmed that the effect of experience on trust in robots for surgical interventions was greater among men, people between 40 and 54 years old, and those with higher educational levels.

Conclusions:

Despite the considerable benefits for the patient that the use of robots can bring in a surgical intervention, the results obtained show that trust in robots goes beyond rational decision-making. By contrasting the reasons that generate trust and mistrust in robots, especially by highlighting the experience of use as a key element, the research makes a new contribution to the state of the art and draws practical implications of the use of robots for health policy and practice.