TY - JOUR
T1 - A randomized clinical trial evaluating eHealth in bariatric surgery
AU - Versteegden, Dirk P.A.
AU - Van Himbeeck, Magaly J.J.
AU - Luyer, Misha D.
AU - van Montfort, Gust
AU - de Zoete, Jean-Paul J.G.M.
AU - Smulders, Johannes Franciscus
AU - Nienhuijs, Simon W.
PY - 2023/10
Y1 - 2023/10
N2 - Background: Supporting patients before, and long after, their bariatric treatment contributes a lot to successful outcome. eHealth interventions have a hypothetical benefit in addition to standard care. This could lead to increased weight loss, reduction of obesity-related diseases, patient adherence, and quality of life. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the value of an eHealth platform and self-monitoring devices as additions to standard bariatric care. Materials and methods: Two-hundred-and-five patients who underwent primary bariatric surgery were randomized (2:1:1) to receive standard care (control group), additional access to an educational patient eHealth platform (online group), or additional access to eHealth platform as well as self-monitoring devices (device group). The platform consisted of an interactive educational environment with informational videos, dietary advice, news, and more. The self-monitoring devices used were a weight scale, blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, and activity bracelet. The primary endpoint was weight loss and secondary outcomes included reduction of obesity-related diseases, quality of life, and eHealth use. Results: Postoperative weight loss, reduction of obesity-related diseases, frequency of consultations, and quality of life were similar between groups. Participation to the eHealth platform was high (online group 90%, device group 98%). Most frequently accessed contents were informational messages, videos, and the treatment preparation modules. The percentage of active users of the self-monitoring devices dropped from 62% in the first postoperative month to 19% after 2 years. Thirteen patients in the device group withdrew due to unwillingness to use self-monitoring devices. Conclusion: Participation to the eHealth intervention in addition to the standard post-bariatric guidance program was high, however, had no significant impact on clinical outcomes such as weight loss, reduction of obesity-related diseases, and quality of life. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier number NL56992.100.16) https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03394638
AB - Background: Supporting patients before, and long after, their bariatric treatment contributes a lot to successful outcome. eHealth interventions have a hypothetical benefit in addition to standard care. This could lead to increased weight loss, reduction of obesity-related diseases, patient adherence, and quality of life. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the value of an eHealth platform and self-monitoring devices as additions to standard bariatric care. Materials and methods: Two-hundred-and-five patients who underwent primary bariatric surgery were randomized (2:1:1) to receive standard care (control group), additional access to an educational patient eHealth platform (online group), or additional access to eHealth platform as well as self-monitoring devices (device group). The platform consisted of an interactive educational environment with informational videos, dietary advice, news, and more. The self-monitoring devices used were a weight scale, blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, and activity bracelet. The primary endpoint was weight loss and secondary outcomes included reduction of obesity-related diseases, quality of life, and eHealth use. Results: Postoperative weight loss, reduction of obesity-related diseases, frequency of consultations, and quality of life were similar between groups. Participation to the eHealth platform was high (online group 90%, device group 98%). Most frequently accessed contents were informational messages, videos, and the treatment preparation modules. The percentage of active users of the self-monitoring devices dropped from 62% in the first postoperative month to 19% after 2 years. Thirteen patients in the device group withdrew due to unwillingness to use self-monitoring devices. Conclusion: Participation to the eHealth intervention in addition to the standard post-bariatric guidance program was high, however, had no significant impact on clinical outcomes such as weight loss, reduction of obesity-related diseases, and quality of life. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier number NL56992.100.16) https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03394638
KW - Bariatric surgery
KW - eHealth
KW - Obesity
KW - Telemonitoring
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85165248341
U2 - 10.1007/s00464-023-10211-w
DO - 10.1007/s00464-023-10211-w
M3 - Article
C2 - 37474829
AN - SCOPUS:85165248341
SN - 0930-2794
VL - 37
SP - 7625
EP - 7633
JO - Surgical Endoscopy
JF - Surgical Endoscopy
IS - 10
ER -
