• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

SAGES

Reimagining surgical care for a healthier world

  • Home
    • Search
    • SAGES Home
    • SAGES Foundation Home
  • About
    • Who is SAGES?
    • SAGES Mission Statement
    • Advocacy
    • Strategic Plan, 2020-2023
    • Committees
      • Request to Join a SAGES Committee
      • SAGES Board of Governors
      • Officers and Representatives of the Society
      • Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs
      • Full Committee Rosters
      • SAGES Past Presidents
    • Donate to the SAGES Foundation
    • SAGES Store
    • Awards
      • George Berci Award
      • Pioneer in Surgical Endoscopy
      • Excellence In Clinical Care
      • International Ambassador
      • IRCAD Visiting Fellowship
      • Social Justice and Health Equity
      • Excellence in Community Surgery
      • Distinguished Service
      • Early Career Researcher
      • Researcher in Training
      • Jeff Ponsky Master Educator
      • Excellence in Medical Leadership
      • Barbara Berci Memorial Award
      • Brandeis Scholarship
      • Advocacy Summit
      • RAFT Annual Meeting Abstract Contest and Awards
    • “Unofficial” Logo Products
  • Meetings
    • NBT Innovation Weekend
    • SAGES Annual Meeting
      • 2024 Scientific Session Call For Abstracts
      • 2024 Emerging Technology Call For Abstracts
    • CME Claim Form
    • Industry
      • Advertising Opportunities
      • Exhibit Opportunities
      • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Future Meetings
    • Related Meetings Calendar
  • Join SAGES!
    • Membership Benefits
    • Membership Applications
      • Active Membership
      • Affiliate Membership
      • Associate Active Membership
      • Candidate Membership
      • International Membership
      • Medical Student Membership
    • Member News
      • Member Spotlight
      • Give the Gift of SAGES Membership
  • Patients
    • Healthy Sooner – Patient Information for Minimally Invasive Surgery
    • Patient Information Brochures
    • Choosing Wisely – An Initiative of the ABIM Foundation
    • All in the Recovery: Colorectal Cancer Alliance
    • Find a SAGES Member
  • Publications
    • SAGES Stories Podcast
    • SAGES Clinical / Practice / Training Guidelines, Statements, and Standards of Practice
    • Patient Information Brochures
    • TAVAC – Technology and Value Assessments
    • Surgical Endoscopy and Other Journal Information
    • SAGES Manuals
    • SCOPE – The SAGES Newsletter
    • COVID-19 Annoucements
    • Troubleshooting Guides
  • Education
    • OpiVoid.org
    • SAGES.TV Video Library
    • Safe Cholecystectomy Program
      • Safe Cholecystectomy Didactic Modules
    • Masters Program
      • SAGES Facebook Program Collaboratives
      • Acute Care Surgery
      • Bariatric
      • Biliary
      • Colorectal
      • Flexible Endoscopy (upper or lower)
      • Foregut
      • Hernia
      • Robotics
    • Educational Opportunities
    • HPB/Solid Organ Program
    • Courses for Residents
      • Advanced Courses
      • Basic Courses
    • Fellows Career Development Course
    • Robotics Fellows Course
    • MIS Fellows Course
    • Facebook Livestreams
    • Free Webinars For Residents
    • SMART Enhanced Recovery Program
    • SAGES OR SAFETY Video
    • SAGES at Cine-Med
      • SAGES Top 21 MIS Procedures
      • SAGES Pearls
      • SAGES Flexible Endoscopy 101
      • SAGES Tips & Tricks of the Top 21
  • Opportunities
    • NEW-Area of Concentrated Training Seal (ACT)-Advanced Flexible Endoscopy
    • SAGES Fellowship Certification for Advanced GI MIS and Comprehensive Flexible Endoscopy
    • Multi-Society Foregut Fellowship Certification
    • SAGES Research Opportunities
    • Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery
    • Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery
    • Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy
    • Job Board
    • SAGES Go Global: Global Affairs and Humanitarian Efforts
  • Search
    • Search All SAGES Content
    • Search SAGES Guidelines
    • Search the Video Library
    • Search the Image Library
    • Search the Abstracts Archive
  • OWLS
  • Log In

Primary Care Physician Perceptions of Bariatric Surgery and Management of Morbidly Obese Patients

Derrick Wu, MA, Ambar Banerjee, MD, Annabelle Butler, MD, Jennifer Choi, MD, Don Selzer, MD, MS. Indiana University School of Medicine

Introduction: Bariatric surgery provides effective, long-term weight loss and improves co-morbid conditions with reduced five-year mortality. However, many candidates are never referred to bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to assess and compare perceptions of bariatric surgery and management practices for severe obesity in a diverse population of community-based and academic primary care physicians (PCP).

Methods: Upon obtaining IRB approval, an electronic survey was distributed to PCPs in four centers with local access to bariatric services. Questionnaire items explored comfort level with and perceptions of both operative and non-operative strategies. Data was compiled on a secure REDCap database. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were applied using SPSS 24. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: The majority of respondents were male, in practice for over 15 years, and reported an in practice morbid obesity prevalence of 10-25%. Overall, 80% of PCPs referred less than 10% of their morbidly obese patients to surgery with 58% citing the invasive nature of surgery as very/extremely important in avoiding surgical referrals. Moreover, 79% stated vitamin and mineral deficiencies were common following surgery, but the majority (55.3%) felt they were easy to address. For PCPs who refer to surgery, 66% of respondents did not recommend a specific procedure to their patients. PCP referral to non-medical resources is displayed in the bar graph. In a comparison between PCP groups, those PCPs with a practice prevalence of morbid obesity greater than 25% were more likely to refer a patient to surgery (p=.05) or a medical bariatrician (p=.02) than those with less prevalent obesity. Younger PCPs, practicing 15 or fewer years, perceived dietary interventions as being more effective (p=.03).Conclusions: PCPs refer few of their morbidly obese patients for bariatric surgery. This scarcity of referrals may stem from the importance PCPs assign the invasive nature of bariatric surgery. Both percentage of morbidly obese patients seen as well as years of practice play a part in surgery referral rate and perception of the effectiveness of dietary management. As the prevalence of obesity continues to increase in the general population and physician practices and population health receives greater emphasis, it is possible that referrals to both surgical and non-surgical programs will increase.


Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.

Abstract ID: 80224

Program Number: P011

Presentation Session: Poster of Distinction (Non CME)

Presentation Type: PDIST

177

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • WhatsApp
  • Reddit

Related

Hours & Info

11300 West Olympic Blvd, Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90064
1-310-437-0544
[email protected]
Monday - Friday
8am to 5pm Pacific Time

Find Us Around the Web!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Important Links

SAGES 2023 Meeting Information

Healthy Sooner: Patient Information

SAGES Guidelines, Statements, & Standards of Practice

SAGES Manuals

 

  • taTME Study Info
  • Foundation
  • SAGES.TV
  • MyCME
  • Educational Activities

Copyright © 2023 Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons