title: The support needs of patients waiting for publicly funded bariatric surgery - implications for health service planners.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the experience of waiting for publicly funded bariatric surgery in an Australian tertiary healthcare setting. Focus groups and individual interviews involving people waiting for or who had undergone publicly funded bariatric surgery were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. A total of 11 women and 6 men engaged in one of six focus groups in 2014, and an additional 10 women and 9 men were interviewed in 2015. Mean age was 53 years (range 23-66); mean waiting time was 6 years (range 0-12), and mean time since surgery was 4 years (range 0-11). Waiting was commonly reported as emotionally challenging (e.g. frustrating, depressing, stressful) and often associated with weight gain (despite weight-loss attempts) and deteriorating physical health (e.g. development of new or worsening obesity-related comorbidity or decline in mobility) or psychological health (e.g. development of or worsening depression). Peer support, health and mental health counselling, integrated care and better communication about waitlist position and management (e.g. patient prioritization) were identified support needs. Even if wait times cannot be reduced, better peer and health professional supports, together with better communication from health departments, may improve the experience or outcomes of waiting and confer quality-of-life gains irrespective of weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sharman
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Venn
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Human Services, Government of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hensher
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Human Services, Government of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.affiliation: School of Social Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ezzy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D061665:Time-to-Treatment / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014850:Waiting Lists
keywords: cardiovascular diseases; endocrine system diseases; health services; overweight