Mindset and Communication Barriers in the Diffusion of Bariatric Surgery

AbstractPurpose of ReviewCumulating evidence is available to demonstrate the efficacy of bariatric surgery (BS) in achieving weight loss and optimizing comorbidities. However, currently, only a minority of eligible patients approaches bariatric centers. The underuse of BS can no longer be explained by the lack of evidence supporting its beneficial outcomes along with its favorable safety-profile, rather, by the supporting infrastructure, insurance coverage, and mindset of society, including potential patients and allied healthcare professionals. As a framework to approach mindset barriers in the diffusion of BS, we used the Rogers ’ levels of the innovation adoption process: (1)knowledge, (2)persuasion, (3)decision, (4)implementation, and (5)confirmation.Recent FindingsKnowledge: people tend to believe that obesity is a result of lack of willpower and they have difficulties in differentiating BS from cosmetic surgery. Eligible patients often do not assess themselves as being morbidly obese and are unaware that they would qualify for BS.Persuasion: majority of BS candidates search health information online, with the aim of getting information about surgical techniques and other patients ’ experiences.Decision: metabolically more compromised patients are more likely to opt for BS.Implementation: general practitioners who already referred patients for BS seem to be more confident to refer again, to tackle obesity and manage postoperative follow-up.Confirmation: postbariatric...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research