The effect of mindfulness education on eating behaviors and depression status of patients after bariatric surgery

Aim: This study was conducted to examine the effect of mindfulness education on patients' eating behaviors and depression after bariatric surgery. Material and Method: This study, which is a randomized controlled experimental model, was carried out between June 2022 and August 2023 in the General Surgery Clinic of Fırat University Hospital. The population of the study consisted of 780 patients. The sample of the study consisted of 140 patients (70 controls, 70 experiments) determined by the power analysis. In the study, the "Descriptive Characteristics Form" was used to determine the descriptive characteristics of the patients, the "Dutch Eating Behavior Scale" to determine the eating behaviors, and the "Beck Depression Scale" to determine the depression levels. The data were collected by the researcher with the pretest for the patients hospitalized for surgery and the post-test after the face-to-face mindfulness training given to the experimental group. In the evaluation of the data; percentage distribution, arithmetic mean, t test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and test were used. Results: When the total point average of the Eating Behaviors Scale of the patients in the experimental and control groups participating in the study was examined, it was determined that the posttest total score of the patients in the experimental group was 15.14 points lower than the posttest total score of the patients in the control group. When the total mean score of the BECK Depression Scale was examined after the training in patients in the experimental and control groups who had bariatric surgery, it was determined that the posttest total score of the patients in the experimental group was 21.33 points lower than the posttest total score of the patients in the control group. It was determined that mindfulness training given to patients after bariatric surgery had a positive and strong effect on patients' eating behaviors and depression levels, and this was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: As a result of this research, it was determined that mindfulness training given to patients who had bariatric surgery reduced their eating behaviors and depression levels. Keywords: Conscious mindfulness, depression, patient, nursing, bariatric surgery, eating behaviors,