Surgery for morbid obesity: the patients' experiences

Area of Science:

• Bariatric Surgery Outcomes
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Morbid obesity presents significant health challenges.
• Surgical interventions are a key treatment modality for morbid obesity.
• Understanding patient experiences post-surgery is crucial for optimizing care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather data on adult patients' perceptions following morbid obesity surgery.
• To explore patient experiences regarding preparation, hospitalization, physical changes, food tolerance, self-concept, and work.
• To determine the perceived importance of various follow-up care forms.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 123 adult patients.
• Data collected focused on pre- and post-operative experiences and perceptions.
• Analysis included patient-reported physical changes, dietary tolerance, self-concept, and work status.

Main Results:

• Patients reported on their surgical preparation, hospital care, and physical/psychological adjustments.
• Significant changes in food tolerance and self-concept were observed.
• Patient-identified needs for follow-up care were documented.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the need for enhanced anticipatory teaching and nursing practice.
• Findings support improved training for healthcare professionals assisting morbidly obese patients.
• Generated lists of tolerable and nontolerable foods offer practical patient care contributions.