Public perception of bariatric surgery
Abdulmalik Altaf1, Mohammad M Abbas
1Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. E-mail. altaf12345@gmail.com.
Saudi Medical Journal
|April 9, 2019
Summary
Public perception of morbid obesity and bariatric surgery in Saudi Arabia is limited. Many individuals lack awareness of the procedure and its indications, highlighting a need for improved health education and coordination among healthcare providers.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Medical Sociology
- Surgical Outcomes
Background:
- Morbid obesity is a significant health concern in Saudi Arabia.
- Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for morbid obesity, but public perception and awareness remain understudied.
- Understanding public perception is crucial for effective public health strategies and patient engagement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate public perception of morbid obesity and bariatric surgery in Saudi Arabia.
- To identify knowledge gaps and misconceptions regarding bariatric surgery.
- To explore factors influencing willingness to seek surgical intervention for morbid obesity.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from November 2016 to November 2017.
- A validated questionnaire was administered to 1,129 adult participants (excluding medical professionals and those who had undergone bariatric surgery).
- Data analysis correlated perceptions with participants' educational levels.
Main Results:
- Most participants (97.7%) recognized the link between obesity and comorbidities.
- A significant portion were unaware of bariatric surgery (22.7%), considered it cosmetic (18.9%), or misunderstood its indications (approx. 50%).
- Over 41% expressed unwillingness to consult a bariatric surgeon if diagnosed with morbid obesity, with results correlating to education level.
Conclusions:
- Public perception of morbid obesity and bariatric surgery in Saudi Arabia is notably limited.
- There is a clear need for enhanced public awareness campaigns and patient education.
- Interagency collaboration among surgeons, health educators, and healthcare providers is essential to improve understanding and access to care.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Subliminal Perception
782
Subliminal perception refers to the processing of sensory information that occurs below the level of conscious awareness. Researchers study subliminal perception by presenting a stimulus, such as a word or image, very quickly, typically around 50 milliseconds. This rapid presentation is often followed by another stimulus, such as a pattern of dots or lines, which blocks further mental processing of the initial stimulus. As a result, if participants cannot identify the initial stimulus better...
782
01:25Factors Affecting Perception
2.7K
Perception is influenced by perceptual set, context, motivation, and emotion. Perceptual set, or perceptual expectancy, refers to the tendency to perceive things in a particular way, influenced by previous experiences and expectations. This phenomenon affects the interpretation of stimuli, creating a set of mental tendencies and assumptions that impact sensory perceptions of sound, taste, touch, and sight.
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
2.7K
01:28Perception
1.1K
Perception is a fundamental psychological process that enables individuals to organize, interpret, and consciously experience sensory information. This process is crucial for understanding and interacting with the world around us. It includes both bottom-up and top-down processing, each playing a distinct role in how we perceive our environment.
Bottom-up processing begins at the sensory level, where receptors detect external environmental stimuli. These could include the tactile sensation of...
Bottom-up processing begins at the sensory level, where receptors detect external environmental stimuli. These could include the tactile sensation of...
1.1K
01:21Gestalt Principles of Perception
1.1K
Gestalt principles provide a framework for understanding how humans perceive objects as unified wholes within their context. These principles are essential in explaining the cognitive processes that make sense of complex visual stimuli by organizing them into coherent groups. One fundamental principle is proximity, which posits that objects located close to each other are perceived as a collective group. For instance, when dots are positioned near one another, the visual system interprets them...
1.1K
01:17Auditory Perception
1.1K
The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the...
1.1K
01:23Extrasensory Perception
859
Extrasensory perception, or ESP, suggests the ability to perceive events beyond the conventional senses of sight, hearing, and touch. Parapsychologists, who research ESP and related psychic phenomena, categorize ESP into three main types: precognition, telepathy, and clairvoyance.
Precognition involves foreseeing future events, such as predicting an accident before it happens. An example of precognition could be someone dreaming about a specific event, like a car crash, which then occurs...
Precognition involves foreseeing future events, such as predicting an accident before it happens. An example of precognition could be someone dreaming about a specific event, like a car crash, which then occurs...
859