CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT07149012Updated Aug 29, 2025

Artificial Intelligence for Surgical Care in War-Torn Sudan: Feasibility, Barriers, and Ethical Perspectives

An observational study in Surgical Procedures, Operative, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and War Injury, sponsored by Sudan Medical Specialization Board. Completed at 1 site in Sudan. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-08-29.

Sponsored by Sudan Medical Specialization Board · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Other
Time perspective
Other
Enrollment
185
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study is designed to examine how artificial intelligence (AI) could be applied to support surgical care in Sudan during the ongoing armed conflict. The conflict has disrupted hospital operations, displaced surgical teams, and limited access to specialists and modern technology. The investigators are conducting a survey of Sudanese surgeons working in public, private, military, and conflict-zone hospitals to assess awareness of AI, interest in its application, and perceived challenges. In addition, in-depth interviews with senior surgeons and residents are being performed to further explore perspectives on AI in surgical care.

This study represents one of the first attempts to investigate the role of AI in surgery within an active conflict setting in Africa. Findings from this research are expected to inform the design of AI tools that are tailored for fragile health systems, including offline and low-bandwidth environments.

02

Conditions studied

  • Surgical Procedures, Operative
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • War Injury
  • Wounds and Injuries
  • Disasters
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Developing Countries

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Keywords

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Surgeon Training
  • Technology Adoption in Surgery
  • Humanitarian Health
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
Child (0–17), Adult (18–64), Older adult (65+)
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Probability sample

Study population

General surgery residents and consultants practicing in Sudan during the ongoing armed conflict, representing public, private, military, NGO, and conflict-zone hospitals across multiple regions. Participants include surgeons at various training levels, from early-year residents to senior consultants.

Inclusion criteria

  • Sudanese general surgery residents or consultants.
  • Currently working in public, private, military, NGO, or conflict-zone hospitals within Sudan.
  • Able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Surgeons working outside Sudan.
  • Non-surgical medical specialties.
  • Inability or unwillingness to complete the survey or participate in interviews.
04

Study design

Observational model
Other
Time perspective
Other
Enrollment
185 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Interventions

  • OtherArtificial Intelligence Awareness and Feasibility Assessment

    A sequential explanatory mixed-methods assessment of surgeons' awareness, readiness, and perceived barriers to adopting artificial intelligence in surgical care during the ongoing Sudan conflict. The intervention consisted of: A validated, structured online questionnaire adapted from established AI awareness tools, assessing familiarity, perceived benefits, barriers, and ethical concerns. Semi-structured interviews with senior surgical residents and consultants to explore contextual and ethical perspectives in greater depth. The study did not implement AI tools in practice but focused on measuring feasibility and identifying requirements for future AI deployment in conflict-affected surgical systems.

    Also known as: AI Readiness Survey, AI in Surgical Care Study Sudan, AI Training and Barriers Assessment

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Awareness of Artificial Intelligence in Surgical Care Among Sudanese Surgeons

    Measured using a structured questionnaire including domains of familiarity with AI concepts, perceived benefits, and potential applications in perioperative care. Responses are recorded on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (not at all familiar/beneficial/applicable) to 5 (very familiar/beneficial/applicable). Higher scores indicate greater awareness and more positive perceptions.

    Time frame: At survey completion (October 2024 - June 2025)

06

Study locations

1 site
  • Sudan Medical Specialization Board
    Wad Medani, Al Jazirah 14552, Sudan
07

References and documents

Publications

  • Alsaedi AR, Alneami N, Almajnoni F, Alamri O, Aljohni K, Alrwaily MK, Eid M, Budayr A, Alrehaili MA, Alghamdi MM, Almutairi ED, Eid MH. Perceived Worries in the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence Among Healthcare Professionals in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study. Nurs Rep. 2024 Nov 28;14(4):3706-3721. doi: 10.3390/nursrep14040271. PubMed 39728632 ↗
  • Fleming CA, Ali O, Clements JM, Hirniak J, King M, Mohan HM, Nally DM, Burke J; Association of Surgeons in Training (ASIT). Surgical trainee experience and opinion of robotic surgery in surgical training and vision for the future: a snapshot study of pan-specialty surgical trainees. J Robot Surg. 2022 Oct;16(5):1073-1082. doi: 10.1007/s11701-021-01344-y. Epub 2021 Nov 26. PubMed 34826106 ↗
  • De Simone B, Abu-Zidan FM, Gumbs AA, Chouillard E, Di Saverio S, Sartelli M, Coccolini F, Ansaloni L, Collins T, Kluger Y, Moore EE, Litvin A, Leppaniemi A, Mascagni P, Milone L, Piccoli M, Abu-Hilal M, Sugrue M, Biffl WL, Catena F. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of artificial intelligence in emergency and trauma surgery, the ARIES project: an international web-based survey. World J Emerg Surg. 2022 Feb 10;17(1):10. doi: 10.1186/s13017-022-00413-3. PubMed 35144645 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because the dataset contains sensitive information collected from healthcare professionals working in conflict-affected regions. Sharing could risk identification of participants despite anonymization, given the small and specialized population.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07149012
Lead sponsor
Sudan Medical Specialization Board
Responsible party
Alsadig Suliman (Principal Investigator, Sudan Medical Specialization Board) — Principal investigator
First posted
Aug 29, 2025
Start date
Oct 1, 2024
Primary completion
Jun 1, 2025
Completion
Jun 1, 2025
Last update
Aug 29, 2025

Study contacts

Alsadig Suliman, MBBS, Msc
principal investigator · Sudan Medical Specialization Board

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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