Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Oct 21;19(1):703.
doi: 10.1007/s11701-025-02850-z.

Team interactions in robotic-assisted surgery: a scoping review

Kyi Phyu Nyein  1 , Kyle M Canady  2 , Joshua A Duron  2 , Jessica L Wildman  2
Affiliations

Team interactions in robotic-assisted surgery: a scoping review

Kyi Phyu Nyein et al. J Robot Surg. .

Abstract

Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) significantly alters the operating theater team's spatial configuration, necessitating different communication strategies that subsequently affect team dynamics. Despite the growing prevalence of RAS, inconsistencies remain regarding the conceptualization and measurement of team interactions specifically in RAS in the existing literature. This scoping review aims to provide an overview of the empirical research on team interactions within RAS, identify research gaps, and propose future directions. We conducted the scoping review following updated methodological guidelines and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) reporting standards. Searches of PsycINFO, CINAHL, PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were performed, including empirical articles published between January 2010 and October 2023 focusing on team interactions in RAS. Fifty-four empirical articles were included for analysis. Findings highlighted four major themes: teamwork and communication, non-technical skills, flow disruptions, and teaching/surgical education. Most included studies used quantitative methods and observational data. Communication was frequently studied but inconsistently defined and measured, whereas non-technical skills were more consistently defined and measured. Flow disruptions significantly impacted surgical outcomes, and studies emphasized the need for education on verbal communication strategies in RAS. This review illustrates the inconsistencies in defining and measuring team-related concepts in the literature, highlighting the need for standardized terminologies and measures. Future research should explore mediators and moderators in team interactions in RAS and integrate non-technical skills into training curricula. Such advancements could enhance surgical training, team effectiveness, patient safety, and outcomes associated with RAS.

Keywords: Communication; Flow disruptions; Non-technical skills; Robotic-assisted surgery; Surgical education; Teamwork.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there are no competing interests. Ethical approval: Not required.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) flow diagram
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Number of publications by year
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Sheetz KH, Claflin J, Dimick JB (2020) Trends in the adoption of robotic surgery for common surgical procedures. JAMA Netw Open 3(1):e1918911. 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.18911 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Lanfranco AR, Castellanos AE, Desai JP et al (2004) Robotic surgery: a current perspective. Ann Surg 239(1):14–21. 10.1097/01.sla.0000103020.19595.7d - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Randell R, Honey S, Alvarado N et al (2016) Embedding robotic surgery into routine practice and impacts on communication and decision making: a review of the experience of surgical teams. Cogn Tech Work 18:423–437. 10.1007/s10111-016-0368-0 - DOI
    1. Wong SW, Ang ZH, Crowe P (2024) Enhancing ergonomics in robotic surgery—a review. AME Surg J 30(4):1–7. 10.21037/asj-24-43 - DOI
    1. Muaddi H, Hafid ME, Choi WJ et al (2021) Clinical outcomes of robotic surgery compared to conventional surgical approaches (laparoscopic or open): a systematic overview of reviews. Ann Surg 273(3):467–473. 10.1097/SLA.0000000000003915 - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources