Patient perspectives on surgeon-specific outcome reports in bariatric surgery

Surgeon specific outcome reports (SSOR) in the UK can be accessed freely by the general public to promote transparency and informed decision-making. However, the views amongst bariatric patients concerning these data are unknown.

The aims of this study were to determine patient awareness, views and priorities for outcome reporting in bariatric surgery, and to provide recommendations for future surgeon-specific outcome reporting through the United Kingdom National Bariatric Surgery Registry.

Bariatric surgical unit in a UK university teaching hospital.

We adapted a previously validated questionnaire and surveyed the views of 150 patients in a single bariatric surgical unit. We collected data concerning awareness, views, and future priorities for outcome reporting.

A full 73% of participants were unaware they could access SSOR. Of the participants that were unaware, 75% stated that they would have accessed SSOR had they been aware they could. Of the participants that had previously accessed SSOR, 86% stated they understood the data, although 61% indicated it did not influence their choice of surgeon. The majority of participants favored public release of outcome reports at the surgeon-level (75%) and hospital-level (83%). The 3 main priorities indicated by participants for future outcome reporting were complication rates (91%), patient reported outcome measures (90%), and reoperation rate (89%), all at the surgeon level.

Patient awareness of outcome reporting is poor. Efforts must be made to increase awareness of SSOR. Patients should be incorporated as key stakeholders in determining future outcome reporting in bariatric surgery.