EXPLORING THE PERCEPTIONS AND UNDERSTANDING OF DIFFERENT BARIATRIC PROCEDURES AMONG OBESE INDIVIDUALS IN THE NORTHERN BORDER REGION, SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract

Yasir Mehmood, Pakeeza Shafiq, Abdullah Shafi Alanazi, Feras Hamad Alanazi, Khalid Majed Almutlaq, Omar Mosab Alenazi, Abdulaziz Mohammed Almalki, Hussam Mohammed Alanazi

Background: Although bariatric surgery is a well-documented effective intervention for severe obesity and its comorbidities, awareness, and knowledge of the procedures are highly important among obese patients in bringing about acceptance and utilization of such surgical interventions.

Objective: The present study aimed to find out the awareness and knowledge regarding different bariatric procedures among obese patients in the Northern Border Region, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This current study was designed to be a cross-sectional one that recruited obese individuals aged 18 years or older with BMI ≥ 30 in the Northern Border Region through convenience sampling. Data was gathered from an online questionnaire that included demographic information of the patients, awareness of bariatric surgery, and knowledge of specific bariatric procedures. Knowledge was assessed using 20 multiple-choice questions with a score ranging from 0 to 20 points.

Results: Of the 373 participants, 76.7% knew that bariatric surgery was a treatment option; they reported television/media and personal networks as sources of this information by 44.1% and 43.0%, respectively. Sleeve gastrectomy and adjustable gastric banding represented the two best-known procedures at 37% and 41.3%, respectively. On the other end of the spectrum, biliopancreatic diversion with a duodenal switch represented the least well-known procedure at 6.4%. About 14.5% of the respondents demonstrated a high level of knowledge, whereas 51.5% showed a moderate level.

Conclusion: It has been highlighted that bariatric surgery was highly acknowledged (76.7%) as one of the obese patients' treatment options in the Northern Border Region, Saudi Arabia. However, knowledge regarding the same remains a concern because only 14.5% possessed a high level of knowledge.