Changes in Patterns of Radical Prostatectomy due to Diffusion of Robotic Surgical System: A Nationwide Study Using Health Insurance Claims Data

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the changes in the number of surgeries and surgical patterns due to the adoption and diffusion of new medical technology while focusing on radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical equipment status report data and the National Health Insurance claims data from 2007 to 2019 were used. A total of 62798 radical prostatectomies from 135 medical facilities were analyzed. Radical prostatectomy was classified into open radical prostatectomy (ORP), laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), and robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) using the fee schedule codes. A linear mixed model was used to determine whether the adoption of a robotic surgical system had an effect on the number of surgeries and surgical patterns after adjusting for medical characteristics. RESULTS: The number of radical prostatectomies performed in Korea increased from 1756 in 2007 to 8475 in 2019. During this period, the proportion of RARP in total surgery increased from 17.5% to 74.3%. The mean number of surgeries at medical facilities adopting the robotic surgical system was 128.3, which was higher compared to 18.5 cases in medical facilities that did not adopt it. The adoption of a robotic surgical system increased the number of radical prostatectomy surgeries by 12.1 cases and the RARP share by 47.2% in a linear mixed model. CONCLUSION: The adoption and diffusion of robotic surgical systems in Korea increased the number of surgeries as well as the share of robotic surgery. It is necessary to manage a technology that is widely used in a state where its clinical effectiveness is uncertain.