Study Protocol: A Scoping Review on Costing Methodologies in Robotic Ventral Hernia Repair

Background: Healthcare expenditure is increasing at a rate that surpasses the growth of the gross domestic product in most Western nations, emphasizing the need for precise hospital accounting practices. In resource-constrained environments, accurately estimating the costs of hospital services, such as robotic ventral hernia repair, is essential for achieving efficiency and transparency. Despite the existence of several studies reporting on the cost of robotic ventral hernia repair, there is a lack of systematic mapping of current knowledge on the methodological designs used in studies reporting on the costs and resource use. Methods: This study protocol outlines the methodology for a scoping review aimed at systematically mapping the existing literature on costing methodologies in robotic ventral hernia repair. The scoping review will follow the framework outlined by Arksey and O'Malley and adhere to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic search will be conducted in Embase, Medline and Cochrane Library. Studies will be included if they involve patients undergoing robotic ventral hernia repair and report on cost/costing methodologies. The review will extract data on study characteristics, intervention specifics, and detailed costing methodologies. Two independent reviewers will conduct the data extraction, with discrepancies resolved through discussion or by a third reviewer. Discussion: The review will identify significant variations in costing methodologies, including differences in perspectives (hospital vs. societal), time horizons, and cost components. It aims to highlight gaps and inconsistencies in the current literature, providing a foundation for future research to standardize costing methodologies and improve the accuracy of economic evaluations in robotic surgery. By systematically mapping the existing literature, this scoping review will provide valuable insights into the current state of costing methodologies in robotic ventral hernia repair. It will serve as a foundational reference for researchers, policymakers, and healthcare providers, offering recommendations to enhance the economic evaluation of robotic surgical technologies.