NCT07149012

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

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

• Status: Completed
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 185 (actual)
• Sponsor: Sudan Medical Specialization Board · Other Government
• Sex: All
• Age: —
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

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.

Conditions

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

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Artificial 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.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-10-01
• Primary completion: 2025-06-01
• Completion: 2025-06-01
• First posted: 2025-08-29
• Last updated: 2025-08-29

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Sudan