Evaluation of a Bariatric Monitoring Pass for Primary Care Physicians

Tamara Ranzenberger-Haider; Elias Laurin Meyer; Tanja Stamm; Bettina Dreschl; Bianca Itariu; Gerhard Prager; Anna Stangl; Alexandra Kautzky-Willer; Karin Schindler; Michael Krebs

doi:10.1159/000524584

Evaluation of a Bariatric Monitoring Pass for Primary Care Physicians

Obes Facts. 2022;15(5):629-637. doi: 10.1159/000524584. Epub 2022 Apr 13.

Affiliations

¹ Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
² Center for Medical Statistic, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Section for Medical Statistic, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
³ Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Section for Outcomes Research, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
⁴ Clinical Division of Gastroenterology und Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical Dietary Counselling, AKH Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
⁵ Department of Surgery, Department of Bariatric Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Abstract

Introduction: There are a growing number of patients undergoing bariatric surgery requiring lifelong follow-up. Therefore, follow-up care can no longer be covered by specialized outpatient clinics alone due to the sharp rise in the number of bariatric patients. Bariatric Patients in Primary Care: Postoperative Nutrition and Lifestyle Management (BagEL) is a survey to evaluate a newly developed structured disease management program including nutrition and lifestyle management in primary care.

Methods: The study is conceived as a randomized cohort study with a control group. An expert questionnaire for general practitioners (GPs) was developed to assess the usability of a structured postoperative care system regarding nutrition and lifestyle management for bariatric patients in primary care. A structured follow-up program in primary care with a so-called bariatric monitoring passport (BMP) was provided for patients in the intervention (INT) group and the existing information sheet "Metabolic surgery and perioperative care" for the control (CON) group. 124 patients, who met inclusion criteria and who underwent a bariatric procedure first time, served as ambassadors for delivery of the expert questionnaire and study documents to their individual GPs.

Results: A total of 39 (31.5%) different GPs from 124 ambassador patients responded. For the primary outcome "Does the aftercare-booklets support treatment of bariatric patients?" GPs of the INT group rated the new designed aftercare booklet (INT) significantly more helpful for treating bariatric patients than the one from the CON group (p = 0.041).

Discussion/conclusion: These results suggest that GPs are welcoming supportive tools like our BMP to improve the care of long-term follow-up of bariatric patients and should actively participate in the development of lifelong disease management plans necessary to cope with the rapidly growing number of patients.

Keywords: Bariatric/metabolic surgery; General practitioners; Long-term follow-up bariatric patients; Primary care.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bariatric Surgery* / methods
Cohort Studies
General Practitioners*
Humans
Physicians, Primary Care*
Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

The present publication was supported by the Medical Scientific Fund of the Mayor of Vienna (project number 18038).