RANZENBERGER-HAIDER Tamara

BagEL - Bariatric Patients in Primary Care: Post-operative Nutrition and Lifestyle Management

Evaluation of a Post-Operative Nutrition and Lifestyle Management for Lifelong Care to Post-Bariatric Patients in Primary Care

Background: During last decades the prevalence of obesity is growing. Therefore, the number of bariatric procedures is also increasing. Frequent complications after surgery are nutritional deficiencies (vitamins, minerals, protein) which require mandatory long-term follow-up. So far adequate follow-up programs are provided only in specialized bariatric centers like at the outpatient clinic for obesity at the General Hospital of Vienna. These programs are focusing on prevention and premature identification of nutrient deficiencies. Rising numbers of bariatric-surgical procedures pose a challenge for bariatric centers because of the accumulating numbers of bariatric patients requesting follow-up at least once a year.

Methods/Design: The study is conceived as a randomized cohort study with a control group. As study population all first time-operated patients undergoing bariatric surgery at the university hospital for surgery Vienna between July 2016 and June 2017 are included who correspond to the inclusion criteria. The usability of a follow-up pass, developed by the outpatient clinic for obesity, for primary care, will be evaluated in form of a printed questionnaire. In particular comprehensibility and practical use of the pass (intervention) compared to the common used recommendations (control) will be tested.

Aim: To provide full coverage of follow-up treatment an appropriate possibility would be to transfer aftercare to non-specialized facilities like family doctors employing a so called “pass” providing practical treatment recommendations (necessary follow up appointments, laboratory blood tests, questions regarding nutrition and movement behavior). To our best knowledge such a post-bariatric management program in primary care does not exist by now. The aim of this study is therefore the evaluation of such a pass. 

Methods and Skills:

questionnaires (usability, patients satisfaction); signs of malnutrition (laboratory parameters); dietary assessment; blood parameters; body composition (BIA); anthropometry