title: Following Bariatric Surgery: an Exploration of the Couples' Experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bariatric surgery is the most effective intervention for morbid obesity, resulting in substantial weight loss and the resolution of co-morbid conditions. It is not clear what impact bariatric surgery and the subsequent life-style changes have on patients' couple relationships. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the lived experience of couples after one member of the couple underwent bariatric surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study utilized a phenomenological approach of semi-structured interviews of the couples jointly (n = 10 couples). Colaizzi's method of analysis for phenomenological studies was utilized to elucidate the central themes and distill the essence of the participants' experience.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the couples felt their post-operative success was due to a joint effort on both members of the couples' part. The participant couples described the following five emerging thematic experiences: (a) changes in physical health, (b) changes in emotional health, (c) changes in eating habits, (d) greater intimacy in the relationship, and (e) the joint journey.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research provides greater insight into the experience of the couple than has been previously reported. The use of qualitative research techniques offer new approaches to examine the biopsychosocial outcomes and needs of bariatric surgery patients. Further research is warranted in order to develop culturally appropriate interventions to improve the patient's surgical and biopsychosocial outcomes.
authors.affiliation: College of Human Ecology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA. poriesm@ecu.edu.
authors.forename: Mary Lisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pories
authors.affiliation: College of Human Ecology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA. hodgsonj@ecu.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA. rosem@ecu.edu.
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA. penderjo@ecu.edu.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pender
authors.affiliation: College of Human Ecology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA. siran@ecu.edu.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sira
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA. swansonme@ecu.edu.
authors.forename: Melvin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Swanson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004644:Emotions; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: Bariatric surgery; Couples; Obesity surgery; Qualitative method