DO GENERAL PRACTITIONERS VOLUNTARILY PARTICIPATE IN TRAININGS TO TREAT BARIATRIC PATIENTS AFTER SURGERY? A QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY.

Introduction There is a growing number of patients undergoing bariatric surgery (BS) requiring lifelong follow-up. BagEL (Bariatric Patients in Primary Care: Post-operative Nutrition and Lifestyle Management) is a survey to evaluate a newly developed structured postoperative management program in primary care (PC). We present preliminary results of participating general practitioners (GP) in the BagEL study.

Objectives It has not yet been explored if GP participate in voluntary trainings for practical treatment recommendations for patients who underwent BS.

Methods A questionnaire for GP was developed to assess the usability of a structured post-operative care system for bariatric patients in PC. Part of this questionnaire asked for voluntary participation in trainings for follow-up treatment recommendations. 38 GP completed the survey.

Results 33 (86,8 %) out of 38 GPs stated to treat patients after BS procedures – with an average of 3 patients per month. The remaining 5 (13,2 %) GPs have not taken care of bariatric patients until this study. Out of the GPs, who treat patients after BS, 4 (12,1 %) participated an additional training for recommended treatment after BS in the last five years. 26 (78,8 %) joined no further education and 3 (9,1 %) didn’t know.

Conclusion Looking at the accumulating numbers of bariatric patients, follow-up should be at least partly transferred to PC which is recommended by international guidelines for post bariatric management. These follow-up appointments are necessary for prevention and treatment of post-operative complications and monitoring of health and nutritional status. Our study indicates that only 12,1 % of GPs acquire additional knowledge required for lifelong treatment management of bariatric patients. Hence, future research should focus on the development of standardized methods regarding management and treatment of lifelong aftercare in PC of patients who underwent bariatric surgery.

Disclosure of Interest None declared

Publication History

Article published online:
16 June 2021