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Factors Associated With Bariatric Surgery Referral Patterns: A Systematic Review
Agnes Premkumar1, Jamil S Samaan2, Kamran Samakar1
1Division of Upper GI and General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California.
The Journal of Surgical Research
|March 25, 2022
Summary
Bariatric surgery (BS) is underutilized due to provider unfamiliarity with its benefits and logistics. Increased provider education and streamlined access can significantly improve bariatric surgery referrals for obesity treatment.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic and Endocrine Disease Research
- Surgical Innovation and Patient Outcomes
- Healthcare Access and Delivery
Background:
- Bariatric surgery (BS) effectively treats morbid obesity and related comorbidities.
- Despite proven benefits, BS utilization remains suboptimal among eligible patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and summarize barriers affecting bariatric surgery referral patterns.
- To understand factors influencing provider decisions to refer patients for BS.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed, SCOPUS, and OVID databases.
- Analysis of comparative studies on bariatric surgery referral patterns.
- Examination and summarization of identified referral barriers.
Main Results:
- Provider unfamiliarity with BS safety, efficacy, and postoperative care is a key referral barrier.
- Provider experience, patient demographics (female, younger), and logistical factors (insurance, local programs) influence referral rates.
- Provider-initiated discussions positively correlate with BS referrals; providers express interest in BS training.
Conclusions:
- Low BS utilization is linked to provider knowledge gaps and logistical challenges.
- Enhancing provider education and addressing access barriers are crucial for increasing BS referrals.
- Further research is needed to quantify the impact of specific barriers on referral rates.
