To explore patients' expected concerns, barriers, and challenges in the long term after metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS), as well as their preoperative expectations regarding physical, social, and psychological aspects, emphasizing the distinction between these two timeframes.
Key Findings:
Patients primarily seek MBS for physical health reasons, particularly weight loss and improvement of obesity-related diseases.
Postoperative satisfaction is often linked to improved self-esteem rather than just weight loss, highlighting the need for realistic expectations.
Patients have unrealistic expectations regarding weight loss after MBS, with reported expected %EWL significantly higher than actual long-term outcomes, which may impact satisfaction.
Patients accept substantial risks of complications to achieve their weight loss goals, with higher BMI patients accepting greater risks.
Interpretation:
Understanding patients' preoperative expectations and concerns can enhance preoperative counseling and help manage expectations, ultimately improving patient-centered outcomes.
Limitations:
The study may not fully capture the perspectives of patients who are not fluent in Dutch or those who declined to participate, potentially skewing results.
Limited exploration of the influence of age on risk acceptance and long-term challenges faced by patients, which could affect the generalizability of findings.
Conclusion:
Insights into patients' motivations and expectations can inform better preoperative counseling and support tailored to individual needs, addressing both preoperative expectations and potential postoperative challenges.
