A Structured Social Media Health Support Program after Bariatric Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Bariatric Surgery
• Health Psychology
• Digital Health

Background:

• Social media offers emotional, instrumental, and social support, potentially improving post-bariatric surgery care adherence.
• Online platforms can facilitate patient engagement with health recommendations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a social media-based, health care professional-led program's impact on long-term patient adherence to bariatric surgery guidelines.
• Assess the program's effect on self-care, weight management, and patient well-being post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• An observational, mixed-methods cohort study utilized a 12-week Facebook psychoeducational intervention.
• Participants (1-7 years post-bariatric surgery) completed pre- and post-program questionnaires on adherence, well-being, and demographics.
• Daily system data tracked program engagement, with video and protein content showing high interaction.

Main Results:

• 101 participants (80.2% female, mean age 43.8 years, BMI 30.2 kg/m² ) completed the study.
• Improvements observed in adherence to postoperative recommendations and overall well-being.
• 44.6% achieved or maintained target weight; engagement declined over time, with videos and protein content being most popular.

Conclusions:

• Interactive social media health support enhances patient engagement and adherence to treatment recommendations.
• Online interventions positively influence health outcomes and patient well-being after bariatric surgery.
• Social media platforms offer a viable tool for sustained post-surgical care support.