The effects of e-mobile education and counselling services on self-care, body image and quality of life of bariatric surgery patients

This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of e-mobile education and counselling service on self-care agency, body image, and quality of life in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. The sample of the study consisted of 51 (26 experiment, 25 control) patients who met the sample selection criteria and volunteered to participate in the study in Isparta City Hospital Obesity Center. The patients in the experimental group received e-mobile training and consultancy services with the mobile application developed specifically for bariatric surgery that started before the operation and lasted for 3 months. The data of the study were collected using the Personal Information Form, Self-Care Agency, Body Image, and Moorehead Ardelt Quality of Life II (MA-II) Scales prepared in accordance with the literature. In addition to descriptive statistics, Chi-Square, Independent Samples t-test, Repeated Measures, Mann-Whitney U and Friedman tests were used to evaluate the data. A statistically significant difference was found in the mean scores of Self-Care Strength, Body Image, MA-II and BMI of the patients in the experimental and control groups according to the processes (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of preoperative, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd month Self-Care Power, Body Image and MA-II scale mean scores (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in favour of the experimental group in terms of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd month BMI averages (p<0.05). The findings indicated that e-mobile training and counselling services given to patients undergoing bariatric surgery were effective in BMI measurements, but not on self-care power, body image and quality of life. Based on these results, using mobile health applications for effective weight loss after bariatric surgery is recommended. In addition, conducting longer studies to evaluate the effects of the e-mobile application developed specifically for bariatric surgery is recommended.