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. 2012 Sep;207(3):174.e1-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2012.06.050. Epub 2012 Jun 29.

The commercialization of robotic surgery: unsubstantiated marketing of gynecologic surgery by hospitals

Maria B Schiavone  1 , Eugenia C Kuo, R Wendel Naumann, William M Burke, Sharyn N Lewin, Alfred I Neugut, Dawn L Hershman, Thomas J Herzog, Jason D Wright
Affiliations

The commercialization of robotic surgery: unsubstantiated marketing of gynecologic surgery by hospitals

Maria B Schiavone et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2012 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: We analyzed the content, quality, and accuracy of information provided on hospital web sites about robotic gynecologic surgery.

Study design: An analysis of hospitals with more than 200 beds from a selection of states was performed. Hospital web sites were analyzed for the content and quality of data regarding robotic-assisted surgery.

Results: Among 432 hospitals, the web sites of 192 (44.4%) contained marketing for robotic gynecologic surgery. Stock images (64.1%) and text (24.0%) derived from the robot manufacturer were frequent. Although most sites reported improved perioperative outcomes, limitations of robotics including cost, complications, and operative time were discussed only 3.7%, 1.6%, and 3.7% of the time, respectively. Only 47.9% of the web sites described a comparison group.

Conclusion: Marketing of robotic gynecologic surgery is widespread. Much of the content is not based on high-quality data, fails to present alternative procedures, and relies on stock text and images.

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