Nurse-led intervention for the management of bariatric surgery patients: A systematic review

The prevalence of obesity has become a global health concern, and severe obesity is associated with various chronic diseases and decreased quality of life. Bariatric surgery has shown success in treating obesity. Nevertheless, some patients experience weight regain and unsatisfactory outcomes. Multidisciplinary interventions have been shown to improve postoperative outcomes. Case managers, often specialized nurses, play a crucial role in patient support and coordination of care. However, the diverse design of case-managing interventions hinders the assessment of their success. Thus, the aim of this review is to identify the most successful structural characteristics of case-managing interventions, with or without the support of e-Health, in the process of perioperative management of bariatric surgery patients. A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, MEDLINE, EBSCOhost, and CINAHL databases were searched for relevant studies published in the last 10 years. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical studies, case studies, or observational studies that evaluated perioperative care in bariatric surgery. The PICO framework was used to frame the search strategy. The initial search yielded 225 articles, of which 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. Nurse-led case-managing interventions with a multidisciplinary approach showed positive results in weight loss, physical activity, and quality of life. Patient-centered care models were found to promote adherence to treatment and patient satisfaction. E-Health technologies improved quality of life but not weight loss. The duration of behavioral interventions and the long-term outcomes after surgery remained unclear. Nurse-led case-management interventions, with a focus on behavioral change and multidisciplinary approaches, show promise in improving outcomes in bariatric surgery patients. Patient-centered care models and longer term interventions may contribute to sustained weight loss and better postoperative outcomes. Further research is needed to determine the optimal duration of interventions and the long-term effects on weight maintenance.