Patient expectations and concerns regarding robotic thyroidectomy in china: a cross-sectional study

Robotic thyroidectomy (RT) has gained increasing patient interest and clinical adoption in China. However, patient perceptions of RT remain poorly understood. A cross-sectional survey of 211 patients who had previously heard of RT was conducted to explore their attitudes, expectations and concerns regarding the procedure. Of the participants, 158 (74.9%) were female, with a median age of 36. The primary source of RT-related information was hospital or clinic visits (58.8%), followed by the Internet and social media (42.7%). Over half (53.6%) showed a clear preference for RT, while 24.2% remained undecided and 22.3% did not favor the robotic approach. Nearly half of the respondents (48.8%) believed RT provided better overall outcomes compared to the open approach. The most commonly expected advantage was improved cosmetic results (80.6%). Leading concerns regarding RT included the surgeon's experience and case volume (40.3%), increased cost (29.9%) and risk of conversion to open surgery (25.6%). Multivariable regression analyses identified that familiarity with RT (OR 2.01, p = 0.044) and the perception of RT's superiority over open surgery (OR 5.36, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with preference for RT. Expense concerns were independently associated with a lower likelihood of choosing RT (OR 0.26, p < 0.001). This study identified that participants' understanding of RT was limited in certain aspects, along with some unfounded expectations and concerns. These findings highlighted the need for clearer information, structured patient education, and evidence-based preoperative counseling to manage expectations, address misconceptions and support informed decision-making.