The Role of Pre-surgery Clinical Communication on Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Outcomes: A Prospective Study

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2025

Authors

Ferreira, AJ (Author) Other; IP Carvalho (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Obesity Surgery

Vol. 35

Pages: 1223-1233

ISSN: 0960-8923

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-018-DM7

DOI: 10.1007/s11695-025-07772-1

Abstract (EN): Background Research shows that a positive doctor-patient relationship plays an important role in patient outcomes. However, the influence of their communication during the pre-surgery preparatory consultation (PC) for metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) remains unclear. The goal of this study was to inspect the association between patients' perceptions of doctor-patient communication (DPC) in the PC for MBS and the results of the MBS. Methods This prospective cross-sectional study included 89 adult patients undergoing MBS at a hospital. Before the surgery, patients' perspectives regarding DPC were assessed with the Communication Assessment Tool (CAT). One month after the surgery, participants' levels of well-being were assessed through the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). Other clinical data were obtained through patients' electronic records. Data were analyzed with regression models. Results In the adjusted models, associations with the quality of doctor-patient communication (p < 0.05) were found for the following outcomes: weight loss, body mass index decrease, and patient well-being regarding bodily pain and social functioning. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were also found for digestive complaints and for patient perception of physician post-surgery support. Conclusions DPC in the preparatory consultation has a positive effect on the clinical results of MBS. More studies are necessary for inspection of the generalizability of these findings.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11