Effects of nursing counseling on self-image, depression, eating characteristics, quality of life and comfort level of patients with bariatric surgery

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out in order to determine the influence of training and nursing counseling given to bariatric surgery patients on patients' body image perceptions, status of depression, eating characteristics, quality of life, physical activity levels, comfort levels and status of complication incidence. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study, which had a randomized, controlled, pre-test/post-test, repeated measurement design, was carried out on 25 intervention and 26 control group patients between March 2017 – May 2018 at the Health Application and Research Center of Düzce University. Training and counseling was given individually using a training book and a video CD in two sessions prior to and four sessions following the surgical operation. Assessments were performed at months 1, 3 and 6 before and after the operation. The data were collected using the Patient Information Form, the Body Image Satisfaction Scale (BISS), the Beck Depression Scale (BDS), the Eating Disorder Assessment Scale (EDAS), the SF-36 Life Quality Scale, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and the Comfort Scale. Body composition and vital signs were measured and the results of the blood analysis demanded by the physician was followed up. Descriptive statistical methods, the Pearson chi-square, the Fisher Exact, the Mann Whitney U, the Wilcoxon Signed Rank, the McNemar Chi-square and the Friedman tests were used to analyze the data. FINDINGS: At the month 6 follow-up after the operation, the BISS, the SF-36 Physical and Mental component, total IPAQ, Walking, Mild and Vigorous Activity, and Social and Environmental Comfort mean scores of the intervention group were significantly higher than the control group, while the BDS, the total EDAS, Weight concerns, and Restriction scores were significantly lower (p<0.05). The excessive weight lost in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group xv (p<0.05). No significant difference was found between the intervention and control groups in terms of vital signs and complication incidence rates (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the study confirmed that the Training and Counseling Service program applied was influential on the body image, depression, life quality, eating behavior, weight loss, physical activity and comfort levels of bariatric surgery patients. Keywords: Obesity surgery, Sleeve gastrectomy, Patient training, Counseling, Nursing care