Shared Decision Making and Choice for Bariatric Surgery

Abstract

The number of people undergoing bariatric surgery is increasing every year, and their expectations for surgery often differ greatly. The purpose of this study was to develop a patient-centered decision-making aid to help people define their weight loss goals and assist them in discussing their surgical treatment with surgeons. Before the operation, the patients were asked to read the shared decision-making text and conduct a self-assessment. After the operation, we evaluated the program using survey questionnaires. A total of 103 patients were formally included in this study. The results show that patients were very satisfied with the use of patient decision aids (PDAs), with a score of 4.3 points (±0.6), and the postoperative decision-making satisfaction was also very high, at 4.4 points (±0.5), while the postoperative regret score was low, at 1.6 points (±0.6). Their satisfaction with surgical decision making and decision regret were statistically significantly negatively correlated (r = −0.711, p < 0.001). The experience of using PDAs was statistically significantly negatively correlated with decision regret (r = −0.451, p < 0.001); the experience of PDA use was statistically positively correlated with decision satisfaction (r = 0.522, p < 0.001). Patient decision aids are a means of helping patients make informed choices before they seek to undergo bariatric surgery.

Patient perspectives on surgeon-specific outcome reports in bariatric surgery

“…The NBSR can act as an informative and accurate point of access for patients to find information to help them in decision making and to form realistic expectations [27]. Reasons named by participants for accessing outcome data included "to be on the safe side and gather more information", "to know what the outcomes of the surgeries are", and "to be more informed in my decision-making process".…”

Establishing the Competency Development and Talent Cultivation Strategies for Physician-Patient Shared Decision-Making Competency Based on the IAA-NRM Approach

“…SDM sought to ameliorate information asymmetry between health providers and patients. The initiation of the SDM process is indicated for a patient with an uncertain prognosis or severe illness, patients’ values and preferences vary wildly, or who encounters difficulty choosing between options [ 12 , 33 ]. The physician needs to orient patients to the SDM process and explain the importance of SDM to the patient [ 34 ].…”

Global variations in preoperative practices concerning patients seeking primary bariatric and metabolic surgery (PACT Study): A survey of 634 bariatric healthcare professionals

“…The involvement of patients and families in decision-making can support patients make informed choices before they seek to undergo the surgery (36). In this survey, 50.8% of the respondents involved patients and families in decision-making.…”