Bridging the knowledge gap in urology residency: Unperceived challenges in assisting robotic prostatectomy

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Surgical Education
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• Robotic surgery, especially robotic prostatectomy, is widely adopted in urology training programs globally.
• A need exists for dedicated robotic surgery training curricula to address potential knowledge gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the knowledge gap in robotic prostatectomy understanding between urology residents and experienced urologists.
• To identify specific areas of discrepancy in procedural knowledge and surgical decision-making.

Main Methods:

• A 16-question survey was administered to urology residents and urologists post-robotic prostatectomy.
• Survey items covered patient anatomy, procedural steps, and surgical decision-making.
• Quantitative data were analyzed using kappa scores, and qualitative responses underwent thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Forty-two surveys revealed disagreements between resident and urologist responses on key procedural steps like anastomosis and dissection (kappa values < 0.5).
• Qualitative analysis showed urologists discussed causal factors and intraoperative management, while residents focused on visible issues like bleeding without detailing causes.
• Discrepancies were significant in understanding vesicourethral anastomosis, apical dissection, and seminal vesicle dissection.

Conclusions:

• A significant knowledge gap exists in urology residents' understanding of robotic prostatectomy compared to urologists.
• Findings underscore the necessity for enhanced training in surgical decision-making for robotic prostatectomy.
• This study provides crucial data for developing targeted robotic surgery training curricula.