To assess the current and intended use of AI and LLM-based chatbots among surgeons in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, along with perceived benefits and barriers to adoption.
Approach:
Survey Design: A prospective online survey was conducted among general surgeons at 38 university hospitals in Germany, five in Austria, and five in Switzerland, using a 16-item questionnaire.
Data Analysis: Descriptive statistics summarized responses, with comparisons made using chi-square tests for categorical variables.
Key Findings:
334 surgeons responded to the survey, with a response rate of 8.7%.
58.5% reported occasional use of AI, while 28.2% reported regular use.
Common AI applications included speech recognition (65.3%) and chatbots/LLMs (62.8%).
Anticipated benefits of AI in patient care included reduced administrative tasks (83.0%) and increased diagnostic accuracy (70.6%).
The simplification of documentation was the most frequently mentioned benefit outside patient care (94.4%).
Only 6.5% of respondents reported no prior use of AI.
Interpretation:
The survey highlights varying levels of experience and anticipated benefits among surgeons regarding AI, with noted barriers to adoption.
Limitations:
The survey had a low response rate, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
No formal pilot testing or psychometric validation was performed on the questionnaire.
Conclusion:
The study provides insights into the current use and perceptions of AI in general surgery, indicating a potential for broader adoption with further exploration of barriers.
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An ancillary analysis found less than 2-percentage-point differences in 10-year recurrence across margin thresholds, with no statistically significant adjusted association.
