Quality of life for post gastric sleeve surgery patients: a cross sectional study

Abstract

The prevalence of the global obesity epidemic continues to rise, and sleeve gastrectomy is widely recognized as one of the most successful treatments for morbid obesity. It results in considerable and long-lasting weight loss, remission of obesity-related health conditions, and long-term improvement in quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to primarily examine the correlation between patients’ reported postoperative practices and their quality of life following sleeve gastrectomy. A cross-sectional descriptive correlational study was performed at the bariatric surgery outpatient clinic at El-Demerdash Hospital in Cairo Governorate, Egypt. A purposive sample of 128 patients who met the required criteria was included. Data were collected via two instruments: a structured interviewing questionnaire and the WHOQOL scale. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (Version 22). The quantitative data are expressed as the mean± standard deviation. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) was used to examine correlations between continuous variables. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05, and high statistical significance at p < 0.001. Among participants, 57.9% had satisfactory knowledge regarding obesity, and 64% had satisfactory knowledge about sleeve gastrectomy, the majority of participants demonstrated good adherence to postoperative practices across several domains. Constipation appeared to be the most common long-term complaint. Overall, 63.3% of patients demonstrated a good level of QoL. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between total postoperative practice scores and total QoL scores (p < 0.001). Most patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy had satisfactory knowledge and adherence to postoperative practices which positively affected their QoL, whereas only a minority experienced long-term complications. Structured educational programs are recommended for patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy to correct misconceptions, particularly regarding dietary restrictions, promote adherence to postoperative guidelines, and consequently improve their overall quality of life.