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

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

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2012.06.050

Ethics and Policy Advocacy and Public Understanding

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

Schiavone MB, Kuo EC, Naumann RW, Burke WM, Lewin SN, Neugut AI, Hershman DL, Herzog TJ, Wright JD

Published September 2012 American journal of obstetrics and gynecology

DOI 10.1016/j.ajog.2012.06.050 PMID 22835493

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.

Topics

Ethics and Policy

Advocacy and Public Understanding Media and Representation

Ethics and Policy › Advocacy and Public Understanding › Media and Representation

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

M Schiavone, E Kuo, Bill Burke, Will Burke, Billy Burke, W Burke, S Lewin, A Neugut, D Hershman, Tom Herzog, T Herzog, J Wright

PMID 22835493 22835493 DOI 10.1016/j.ajog.2012.06.050 10.1016/j.ajog.2012.06.050 Schiavone et al. 2012, Schiavone 2012

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

Abstract

Topics

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