Online informational bariatric seminars: increasing access to bariatric surgery or widening a divide?

BACKGROUND: Historically our institution has required prospective bariatric patients attend an in-person introductory seminar prior to their first clinic visit. Utilization of the internet has increased dramatically over the last 10 years and in 2016, we added an online seminar. With the emergence of COVID-19 and new rules regarding social distancing, we are currently relying exclusively on web-based orientation. Research suggests there are racial and socioeconomic disparities in the utilization of internet health resources in the general population. To our knowledge this has not been studied in regard to the bariatric population. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who attended online (OS) and in-person seminars (IPS). Our primary endpoint was to compare the percentage of patients who underwent surgery. Secondary outcomes included differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between the patients who attended the OS versus the IPS. RESULTS: Of the 1152 patients who attended a bariatric orientation, 71.2% scheduled an office visit. The IPS patients had a higher rate of office visits and shorter time between orientation and first visit. Of patients eligible for surgery, there was a higher percentage of Caucasians in the OS group while the IPS group had higher rates of Hispanic and African Americans. Patients from the OS group had higher rates of marriage and employment, and lower rates of medical co-morbidities. When controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, employment status and medical co-morbidities, there was no significant impact of type of orientation on progression to surgery. CONCLUSION: We found that there was no difference in progression to surgery between the two orientation groups. Importantly, however, we detected marked demographic and clinical differences between the two patient populations. There is an urgent need to address these disparities as we are now heavily relying on patient outreach and education via the internet.

A 3D printed suturing trainer for medical students.

BACKGROUND: Medical students must be able to suture competently upon graduation. To learn suturing technique, students must have access to practice materials. The purpose of this pilot study was to develop a novel suturing trainer and to evaluate its ability to provide realistic and accessible suturing practice. A cohort of senior students at one institution compared the device with standard suture-training media (porcine feet and sponges). METHODS: Using 3D printing and silicone casting, a novel suturing trainer was developed and a cohort of senior medical students trialed the device in a standardised suturing workshop. Participants evaluated the novel suturing trainer, porcine feet and sponges for simulating human tissue with regard to: (i) tissue layers; (ii) tissue texture; (iii) ability to perform interrupted suturing; (iv) running subcuticular suturing; and (v) knot tying. RESULTS: Compared with porcine feet and sponges, the suturing trainer had significantly higher mean scores (p < 0.001) for the simulation of human tissue layers and texture, as well as for the ability to facilitate the practice of interrupted suturing, running suturing and knot tying. All (n = 32) participants identified the silicone trainer as the best tool upon which to practice suturing, and 92% (n = 23) responded that their suturing skills would improve if the silicone trainer replaced porcine feet and sponges. DISCUSSION: The silicone suturing device provides a more realistic and accessible suture learning experience than porcine feet and sponges. Further validation is required to assess its long-term effectiveness in medical education.

Lessons Learned From the Surgical Morbidity and Mortality Conference.

OBJECTIVE: The Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) conference is both a quality improvement and an educational conference. We sought to evaluate the educational and quality improvement value of different learners who attend the surgical M&M conference. Furthermore, we sought to evaluate if an educational intervention directed at medical students (MS) would improve their experience at this conference. DESIGN: Over a 2-month period, we used a third party, real-time audience polling software during 4 M&M conferences using questions concerning medical error, loop closure, learning value, applicability, and professionalism. After baseline data were obtained in Phase 1, MS attended a seminar on the subject of error as part of their orientation. Additionally, to facilitate their preparation, MS were supplied the cases to be presented at that week's conference, a few days before M&M. After this intervention, 3 additional M&M conferences were polled, as described above, as part of Phase 2. Differences between faculty (FAC) and MS experience were assessed by chi-square and ANOVA analyses as appropriate. Study was reviewed and received a waiver from the IRB. SETTING: Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, a tertiary care academic teaching hospital of Brown University. PARTICIPANTS: Audience participants were informed of the voluntary nature of this survey and asked to self-identify as MS, PA/NPs, junior residents, senior residents, or FAC. In phase 1, there were an average of 289 ± 18.7 responses per session, while in phase 2 there were an average of 267 ± 9.29 responses per session. RESULTS: In Phase 1, when asked to characterize the error as practitioner, system, both practitioner and system or neither, FAC were more likely to assign error as practitioner error than MS (15/38 - 39.5% vs 6/41 - 14.6%, p = 0.021). This trend continued in Phase 2, FAC (19/33 - 57.6%) vs MS (8/29 - 27.6%), p = 0.011. In terms of whether learners felt the conference was useful to their education (5 point scale - strongly agree to strongly disagree) the FAC felt conference more useful than MS (4.0 vs 3.63 p = 0.005). This trend continued even after intervention (4.24 vs 3.71 p < 0.001). The FAC and MS had the same opinion as to the closure of the case being "education at conference," change in policy/procedure, both, neither, no response - average: 75, 3, 9, 6, 7%. Both the FAC and the MS felt the environment was professional (Phase 1: 4.42 v 4.18, p = 0.321)(Phase 2: 4.43 v 4.37, p = 0.1002). CONCLUSION: Despite an educational intervention, we found FAC and MS maintained very divergent opinions as to what is practitioner error, and system error, and FAC found the M&M discussion more educational than MS. To maximize learning for MS during surgical M&M more interventions are needed.

"Tweet"-format reflective writing: A hidden needs assessment?

BACKGROUND: Medical student reflection is integral for professional development. Preliminary findings suggest that short-format writing promotes reflection and identifies impactful experiences. We sought to determine whether reflective writing could be used as a clerkship needs assessment. METHODS: During their surgical clerkship, medical students submitted "tweet"-format reflections and completed a standardized evaluation. "Tweet" content was analyzed using modified grounded theory methods and coded by valence, content, and reflection. Sub-coding was conducted to compare feedback between "tweets" and evaluations. RESULTS: We analyzed 286 reflections and 214 evaluation comments; 176 "tweets" were reflective (62%). "Tweets" commented on "patient interaction" (53%), "educational experience" (38%), "physician interaction" (26%), and "career decisions" (10%). A significant difference was observed between "tweets" and evaluations with regard to the number that provided feedback on experiences with "critically ill or dying patients." CONCLUSIONS: Reflections provided real-time reactions to impactful clerkship events, notably those involving critically ill or dying patients. This focus on illness may represent an unmet need for discussions related to end of life care. Overall, reflections provided more actionable feedback compared to evaluations.

Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Bariatric Procedures in Medicare-Eligible Patients: A Systematic Review.

Importance: The prevalence of obesity in patients older than 65 years is increasing. A substantial number of beneficiaries covered by Medicare meet eligibility criteria for bariatric procedures. Objective: To assess the comparative effectiveness and safety of bariatric procedures in the Medicare-eligible population. Evidence Review: This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Articles were identified through searches of PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Trials Registry, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and scientific information packages from manufacturers, ClinicalTrials.gov, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and US Food and Drug Administration drugs and devices portals from January 1, 2000, to June 31, 2017. Randomized and nonrandomized comparative studies that evaluated bariatric procedures in the Medicare-eligible population were eligible. Six researchers extracted data on design, interventions, outcomes, and study quality. Findings were synthesized qualitatively; a planned meta-analysis was not undertaken owing to clinical heterogeneity. Findings: A total of 11 455 citations were screened for eligibility. Of those, 16 met the eligibility criteria. Compared with no surgery or conventional weight-loss treatment, bariatric surgery results in greater weight loss. Overall mortality after 30 days is lower among bariatric patients (hazard ratio, HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.31-0.79, in the study with the longest follow-up of 5.9 years), although, based on 1 study, mortality within 30 days of surgery was higher than in nonsurgically treated controls (1.55% vs 0.53%; P < .001). Bariatric surgery is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.44-0.79 in the largest study comparison) and with improvements in respiratory, musculoskeletal, metabolic, and renal outcomes (increase in estimated glomerular filtration rate, 9.84; 95% CI, 8.05-11.62 mL/min/1.73m2). Compared with sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and adjustable gastric banding (AGB), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) appears to be associated with greater weight loss (percent excess weight loss, 23.8% [95% CI, 16.2%-31.4%] at the longest follow-up of 4 years) but the 3 procedures have similar associations with most non-weight loss outcomes. Overall postoperative complications are not statistically significantly different between RYGB and SG, although major and/or serious complications are more common after RYGB. However, these associations are susceptible to at least moderate risk of confounding, selection, or measurement biases. Conclusions and Relevance: In the Medicare population, there is low to moderate strength of evidence that bariatric surgery as a weight loss treatment improves non-weight loss outcomes. Well-designed comparative studies are needed to credibly determine the treatment effects for bariatric procedures in this patient population.

"Tweet"-Format Writing Is an Effective Tool for Medical Student Reflection.

OBJECTIVE: Reflective writing during medical education allows for professional growth through retrospective analysis of experiential knowledge. However, these writing assignments can pose a challenge to millennial medical students who are more likely to assimilate knowledge through the use of innovative technology and who prefer their data in a concise format. Here, we present a novel, tweet-style reflective writing assignment to better engage the unique skill set of today's medical students. We analyzed the written content partway through the year to determine whether or not the format retains the impact of longer, more structured reflective writing assignments. DESIGN: Surgical clerkship students were required to reflect on 3 distinct experiences through a 140-character written reflection, or tweet. Students were able to submit these assignments at any point during their rotation through a platform available on their smartphone or computer. There were no specifications with regard to content. These reflections were analyzed using modified grounded theory methods. Each tweet was analyzed by 2 individuals to ensure intercoder reliability. Codes were created a priori with respect to positive and negative domains, and type of experience. STETTING: Department of Surgery, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Third Year Medical Student Surgical Clerkship. PARTICIPANTS: Third year medical students at the Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University. Fifty-six medical students were included in this study. RESULTS: During the first 4 blocks of the 2016-2017 academic year, 56 students rotated through the third year surgical clerkship. One hundred and sixty-eight tweets were collected and coded. Sixty-nine tweets (42%) had a positive valence. Students reflected on the following experiences: patient interaction (54%), surgical education (34%), physician/resident interaction (27%), and career decisions (11%). Overall, 87 (52%) tweets were reflective. Many tweets included emotional reactions to specific experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Using tweet-style reflective writing, students identified and reacted to multiple salient experiences from their surgical clerkship. They reflected on both positive and negative emotions, mostly related to personal interactions with patients, but also associated with their education, their team, and their future career. Based on early analysis of the data, we believe that short format writing can be an effective format for reflection.

Greater Adherence to Recommended Morning Physical Activity is Associated With Greater Total Intervention-Related Physical Activity Changes in Bariatric Surgery Patients.

BACKGROUND: This study examines whether performance of bout-related physical activity (PA) during morning hours is related to greater overall bout-related PA increases within a preoperative PA intervention for bariatric surgery (BS) patients. METHODS: Participants with severe obesity (n = 33; mean age = 45.6 ± 9.6 years; BMI = 45.7 ± 7.0 kg/m2) seeking BS were randomized to and completed 6 weeks of preoperative PA counseling (retention = 82.5%). Participants were encouraged to walk daily at a moderate intensity in bouts ≥ 10 minutes during morning hours to overcome time-related obstacles and establish a PA habit. Timing and amount of bout-related moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was assessed via objective monitor at pre- and postintervention. RESULTS: Greater proportion of bout-related MVPA performed during morning hours (4:00 AM-12:00 PM) at postintervention was associated with larger total increases in bout-related MVPA minutes/day (ß = .40, P = .03). At postintervention, a greater proportion of participants whose longest MVPA bouts occurred during morning hours (n = 11) achieved the public health guideline (ie, ≥150 bout-related MVPA minutes/week) versus those whose longest MVPA bouts occurred during nonmorning hours (n = 19; 63.6% vs. 26.3%, P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Intervention-related increases in PA tended to be greatest when PA was performed in the morning. Morning exercise may be a viable strategy for promoting habitual PA in inactive BS patients.

Changes in enjoyment, self-efficacy, and motivation during a randomized trial to promote habitual physical activity adoption in bariatric surgery patients.

BACKGROUND: The Bari-Active trial found that a physical activity (PA) intervention (PAI), versus standard presurgical care control (SC), produced significant increases in daily bout-related moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA, in≥10-min bouts) preoperatively. The present study examined whether PAI also produces superior improvements in psychological and/or motivational processes that may be important for PA adoption. OBJECTIVES: Compare PAI and SC on baseline to postintervention changes in PA-related enjoyment, self-efficacy, and motivations, and examine whether greater bout-related MVPA changes are associated with greater improvements in these variables. SETTING: University hospital, United States. METHODS: Participants (87% female; body mass index = 45.0±6.5 kg/m(2)) were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of PAI (n = 40) or SC (n = 35). PAI received weekly counseling sessions to increase daily walking exercise. At baseline and postintervention, both groups completed 7-day objective PA monitoring and questionnaires to evaluate changes in bout-related MVPA and PA enjoyment, self-efficacy, and motivation. RESULTS: Retention was 84% at postintervention. Intent-to-treat analyses showed that PAI on average reported more favorable changes than SC in PA enjoyment, self-efficacy, amotivation (i.e., lack of PA motivation), and identified and intrinsic regulations (i.e., more autonomous PA motivations; P<.01). In PAI completers (n = 33), changes in bout-related MVPA and psychological/motivational variables were unrelated. CONCLUSION: PAI produced greater improvements in PA-related enjoyment, self-efficacy, and motivations than SC. The lack of association between objectively measured PA changes and psychological/motivational processes highlights the need for future research to identify which processes are most important for PA adoption and maintenance in bariatric surgery patients, and to determine whether the method used to measure PA affects the pattern of association.

Exercise improves quality of life in bariatric surgery candidates: results from the Bari-Active trial.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of a pre-bariatric surgery physical activity intervention (PAI), designed to increase bout-related (≥10 min) moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). METHODS: Analyses included 75 adult participants (86.7% female; BMI = 45.0 ± 6.5 kg m(-2)) who were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of PAI (n = 40) or standard pre-surgical care (SC; n = 35). PAI received 6 individual weekly counseling sessions to increase walking exercise. Participants wore an objective PA monitor for 7 days and completed the SF-36 Health Survey at baseline and post-intervention to evaluate bout-related MVPA and HRQoL changes, respectively. RESULTS: PAI increased bout-related MVPA from baseline to post-intervention (4.4 ± 5.5 to 21.0 ± 21.4 min day(-1)) versus no change (7.9 ± 16.6 to 7.6 ± 11.5 min day(-1)) for SC (P = 0.001). PAI reported greater improvements than SC on all SF-36 physical and mental scales (P < 0.05), except role-emotional. In PAI, better baseline scores on the physical function and general health scales predicted greater bout-related MVPA increases (P < 0.05), and greater bout-related MVPA increases were associated with greater post-intervention improvements on the physical function, bodily pain, and general health scales (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing PA preoperatively improves physical and mental HRQoL in bariatric surgery candidates. Future studies should examine whether this effect improves surgical safety, weight loss outcomes, and postoperative HRQoL.

Bari-Active: a randomized controlled trial of a preoperative intervention to increase physical activity in bariatric surgery patients.

BACKGROUND: Habitual physical activity (PA) may help to optimize bariatric surgery outcomes; however, objective PA measures show that most patients have low PA preoperatively and make only modest PA changes postoperatively. Patients require additional support to adopt habitual PA. The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of a preoperative PA intervention (PAI) versus standard presurgical care (SC) for increasing daily moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) in bariatric surgery patients. METHODS: Outcomes analysis included 75 participants (86.7% women; 46.0±8.9 years; body mass index [BMI]=45.0±6.5 kg/m2) who were randomly assigned preoperatively to 6 weeks of PAI (n=40) or SC (n=35). PAI received weekly individual face-to-face sessions with tailored instruction in behavioral strategies (e.g., self-monitoring, goal-setting) to increase home-based walking exercise. The primary outcome, pre- to postintervention change in daily bout-related (≥10 min bouts) and total (≥1 min bouts) MVPA minutes, was assessed objectively via a multisensor monitor worn for 7 days at baseline- and postintervention. RESULTS: Retention was 84% at the postintervention primary endpoint. In intent-to-treat analyses with baseline value carried forward for missing data and adjusted for baseline MVPA, PAI achieved a mean increase of 16.6±20.6 min/d in bout-related MVPA (baseline: 4.4±5.5 to postintervention: 21.0±21.4 min/d) compared to no change (-0.3±12.7 min/d; baseline: 7.9±16.6 to postintervention: 7.6±11.5 min/d) for SC (P=.001). Similarly, PAI achieved a mean increase of 21.0±26.9 min/d in total MVPA (baseline: 30.9±21.2 to postintervention: 51.9±30.0 min/d), whereas SC demonstrated no change (-0.1±16.3 min/d; baseline: 33.7±33.2 to postintervention: 33.6±28.5 minutes/d) (P=.001). CONCLUSION: With behavioral intervention, patients can significantly increase MVPA before bariatric surgery compared to SC. Future studies should determine whether preoperative increases in PA can be maintained postoperatively and contribute to improved surgical outcomes.

A mentorship-based preclinical elective increases exposure, confidence, and interest in surgery.

BACKGROUND: The predicted shortage of surgeons is of growing concern with declining medical student interest in surgical careers. We hypothesized that earlier exposure to operative experiences and the establishment of resident mentors through a preclinical elective would enhance student confidence and interest in surgery. METHODS: We developed a preclinical elective in surgery, which served as an organized curriculum for junior medical students to experience surgery through a paired resident-mentorship model. We assessed student exposure and confidence with clinical activities before and after the elective (N = 24, 100% response rate). We compared these students with a cohort of peers not enrolled in the elective (N = 147, 67% response rate). RESULTS: We found significantly improved confidence (2.8 vs 4.4) and clinical exposure (2.4 vs 4.3) before versus after the elective, with precourse scores equal to matched peers. CONCLUSIONS: This elective incorporates elements that have been shown to positively influence student decision making in surgical career choice. The mentorship model promotes residents as educators, whereas the elective provides a means for early identification of students interested in surgery.

Long-term survival outcomes of Video-assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) lobectomy after transitioning from open lobectomy.

BACKGROUND: Open lobectomy continues to be more commonly performed than video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy. We previously described the short-term safety of an approach for transitioning from open lobectomy to VATS. We now assess its long-term safety by evaluating survival results of the initial VATS cases after transition. METHODS: From a prospective database, survival of stage I non-small cell lung cancer was compared between the first 40 VATS lobectomy and the 40 open lobectomy performed just before the transitioning to VATS. All patients underwent staging by positron emission tomographic scan and mediastinoscopy. Survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. RESULTS: Patient and intraoperative characteristics were not different between the two groups, except for operative time, which was longer for VATS (median 132 vs. 150 min, p = 0.023) and tumor size, which was smaller for VATS (median 2 vs. 2.5 cm, p = 0.002). There was no difference in morbidity and mortality. Median follow-up was 118 months for the open group and 81 months for the VATS group. The 5-year disease-free survival for stage IA (90 % open vs. 97 % VATS, p = 0.439) and IB (74 % open vs. 79 % VATS, p = 0.478) were not different. The 5-year overall survival for stage IA (91 % open vs. 97 % VATS, p = 0.152) and IB (55 % open vs. 67 % VATS, p = 0.198) were also not different. CONCLUSIONS: The transition from open to VATS lobectomy is safe with regards to both short-term morbidity and long-term survival. Surgeons currently performing open lobectomy should consider transitioning to the VATS procedure.

Ecological momentary assessment of the relationship between intention and physical activity behavior in bariatric surgery patients.

BACKGROUND: Performing habitual physical activity (PA) is challenging for many bariatric surgery patients. PURPOSE: We used electronic ecological momentary assessment to naturalistically examine whether insufficient PA among bariatric surgery patients was due to infrequent PA intentions or inadequate follow through on PA intentions. METHOD: Twenty-one patients 6-months post-bariatric surgery were recruited from multiple clinics in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. Participants used a palmtop computer upon waking for 6 days to indicate whether they intended to be active, and if so, the amount of PA they intended to perform in bouts ≥10 min. Each evening, participants reported PA minutes and barriers encountered that day. RESULTS: All 21 participants reported intending to be active on at least 1 day but only 9 (42%) intended to be active on ≥70% of days. Twelve (57%) participants performed PA on each of the days they intended, but none achieved the amount of PA they intended on all of these days. Overall, participants had PA intentions on 81 of 123 days (66%); these were partially implemented (≥10 PA minutes) on 49 days, but fully implemented on only 15 days. Participants spent 34 min in PA, or 20 fewer minutes than intended. "Lack of time" was the only frequently cited barrier, particularly on days that PA was neither intended nor performed. CONCLUSION: Few patients intended to be active on a near daily basis and all patients had difficulty in implementing their intentions. Interventions that target planning strategies may help facilitate PA intentions and limit discrepancy between intended and actual PA.

Leukocyte-depleted blood transfusion is associated with decreased survival in resected early-stage lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Blood transfusion has been shown to have deleterious effect on lung cancer survival, but little data are available that assess whether leukocyte-depleted (LD) blood has a similar adverse effect. Our institution has been using LD red cells since 2001. We sought to determine whether LD blood has an effect on survival after resection of early-stage lung cancer. METHODS: From a prospective database, we evaluated all patients with pathologic stage I non-small cell lung cancer. Patients receiving LD blood were compared with those receiving no transfusion. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis by Cox regression was used to identify independent risk factors affecting survival. RESULTS: From 2001 to 2009, 361 patients were evaluated; 63 received LD red cell cell transfusion and 298 received no transfusion. Median follow-up was 48 months. Disease-free survival (P < .001) and overall survival (P < .001) were worse in patients receiving LD blood. Stratifying for stage, disease-free survival continued to be worse with transfusion for stage IA (P = .002) and IB (P = .002). Similarly, overall survival continued to be worse with transfusion for stage IA (P < .001) and IB (P < .001). For disease-free and overall survival, univariate analysis revealed increased age, male gender, anemia, transfusion, and higher stage to be adverse factors, with transfusion and higher stage continuing to be significant adverse factors after multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that transfusion of LD blood is associated with a worse disease-free and overall survival in patients with resected stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

Comparison of two objective monitors for assessing physical activity and sedentary behaviors in bariatric surgery patients.

BACKGROUND: Objective quantification of physical activity (PA) is needed to understand PA and sedentary behaviors in bariatric surgery patients, yet it is unclear whether PA estimates produced by different monitors are comparable and can be interpreted similarly across studies. METHODS: We compared PA estimates from the Stayhealthy RT3 triaxial accelerometer (RT3) and the Sensewear Pro(2) Armband (SWA) at both the group and individual participant level. Bariatric surgery candidates were instructed to wear the RT3 and SWA during waking hours for 7 days. Participants meeting valid wear time requirements (≥4 days of ≥8 h/day) for both monitors were included in the analyses. Time spent in sedentary (<1.5 METs), light (1.5-2.9 METs), moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA; ≥3.0 METs), and total PA (TPA; ≥1.5 METs) according to each monitor was compared. RESULTS: Fifty-five participants (BMI 48.4 ± 8.2 kg/m(2)) met wear time requirements. Daily time spent in sedentary (RT3 582.9 ± 94.3; SWA 602.3 ± 128.6 min), light (RT3 131.9 ± 60.0; SWA 120.6 ± 65.7 min), MVPA (RT3 25.9 ± 20.9; SWA 29.9 ± 19.5 min), and TPA (RT3 157.8 ± 74.5; SWA 150.6 ± 80.7 min) was similar between monitors (p > 0.05). While the average difference in TPA between the two monitors at the group level was 7.2 ± 64.2 min; the average difference between the two monitors for each participant was 45.6 ± 45.4 min. At the group level, the RT3 and SWA provide similar estimates of PA and sedentary behaviors; however, concordance between monitors may be compromised at the individual level. CONCLUSIONS: Findings related to PA and sedentary behaviors at the group level can be interpreted similarly across studies when either monitor is used.

Effects of bariatric surgery on food cravings: do food cravings and the consumption of craved foods "normalize" after surgery?

BACKGROUND: The reported effects of bariatric surgery on food cravings have been inconsistent. Moreover, research has been largely limited to sweet cravings, and no study has examined whether surgery patients' cravings differ from those of normal weight (NW) controls. Our objective was to use an empirically validated instrument to examine changes in bariatric surgery patients' frequency of food cravings and consumption of craved foods from before to 3 and 6 months after surgery and to compare surgery patients' frequency of food cravings to those of NW controls. The setting was private hospitals and research center in the United States. METHODS: Bariatric surgery patients (n = 32) and NW controls (n = 20) completed the Food Cravings Inventory and had their height and weight measured. RESULTS: Before surgery, the patients reported more overall cravings and cravings for high fat and fast foods and a greater consumption of craved high-fat foods than the NW controls. From before to 3 and 6 months after surgery, the patients had significant reductions in overall cravings for, and consumption of, craved foods, with specific effects for sweets and fast food; however, surgery had virtually no effect on the cravings for high-fat foods. Moreover, high-fat and fast food cravings did not reduce to normative levels. The postoperative patients were less likely to consume craved sweets than NW controls, and the patients' postoperative weight loss was largely unrelated to food cravings. CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery is associated with significant reductions in food cravings and consumption of craved foods, with the exception of high-fat foods. Despite these decreases, patients' cravings do not fully reduce to "normative" levels and are not associated with postoperative weight loss.

Objective assessment of time spent being sedentary in bariatric surgery candidates.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery candidates spend very little time in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (≥ 3 metabolic equivalents [METs]). This study examined (1) how much of their remaining time is spent in sedentary behaviors (SB < 1.5 METs) compared to light-intensity activities (1.5­2.9 METs) and (2) whether sedentary time varies by BMI. METHODS: Daily time (hours, %) spent in SB was examined in 42 surgery candidates (BMI = 49.5 ± 7.9 kg/m2) using the SenseWear Pro2 Armband. Participants were stratified by BMI to assess the relationship between degree of obesity and SB. RESULTS: Participants wore the armband for 5.4 ± 0.7 days and 13.3 ± 1.7 h/day. On average, 81.4% (10.9 ± 2.1 h/day)of this time was spent in SB. Participants with BMI ≥ 50 spent nearly an hour more per day in SB than those with BMI 35­49.9 (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric surgery candidates spend over 80%of their time in SB. Reducing SB may help to increase physical activity in these patients.

Ecological momentary assessment of recommended postoperative eating and activity behaviors.

BACKGROUND: Successful weight loss after bariatric surgery depends on the patient's adherence to prescribed eating and physical activity behaviors. However, few studies have assessed patients' adherence to the behavioral recommendations and most have used retrospective self-report measures. The present study is the first to use ecological momentary assessment (EMA) via a palmtop computer to assess bariatric surgery patients' eating and activity behaviors in real-time in the natural environment. The study was conducted at Miriam Hospital (Providence, RI). METHODS: A total of 21 patients (14 laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and 7 Roux-en-Y; 81% women; mean age 48.5 yr) were studied 6.1 ± 2.1 months postoperatively. The participants used a palmtop computer for 6 days to report on all eating and physical activity episodes as they occurred in the natural environment. RESULTS: All participants demonstrated good compliance with the EMA, using the device on ≥5 full days. Most participants (94.8%) adhered to the recommendation to not drink while eating, and most took their vitamin supplements and medication as prescribed (85.7% and 90.5%, respectively). Few (4.8%) participants ate the recommended ≥5 meals daily, most participants exceeded the recommended portion sizes during meals and snacks (100% and 72.0% of the participants, respectively), and 47.6% of the participants consumed ≥5 servings of fruit and vegetables daily. Only 15.8% regularly consumed adequate liquids. Only 23.8% of participants engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity for ≥30 minutes daily, as recommended. CONCLUSION: The EMA results suggested that adherence to the recommended behaviors varied considerably, depending on the behavior, with greater adherence to simple versus complex behaviors. EMA might eventually be a useful tool to help optimize the outcomes of bariatric surgery by identifying behavioral targets for additional monitoring and intervention.

Significant resolution of female sexual dysfunction after bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: We have previously reported that most women seeking bariatric surgery have had female sexual dysfunction (FSD) as defined by the validated Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The present study examined whether FSD resolves after bariatric surgery. METHODS: A total of 54 reportedly sexually active women (43.3 ± 9.5 years) completed the FSFI preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively after a mean percentage of excess weight loss of 42.3% (laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding [n = 38], percentage of excess weight loss, 34.6% ± 15.7%; Roux-en-Y gastric bypass [n = 16], percentage of excess weight loss 60.0% ± 21.2%). The FSFI assesses sexual function across 6 domains, with higher scores indicating better sexual function. The summing of these scores yields a FSFI total score (range 2-36, with a score of ≤ 26.55 indicating FSD). RESULTS: Before surgery, 34 women (63%) had scores indicative of FSD. By 6 months postoperatively, the FSD had resolved in 23 (68%) of these 34 women, and only 1 woman had developed FSD postoperatively. In the entire sample, significant (P < .05) improvements occurred from before to after surgery on all FSFI domains. The FSFI total scores improved after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (from 24.2 ± 5.9 to 29.1 ± 4.1, P < .001) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (from 23.7 ± 7.7 to 30.0 ± 4.7, P < .001). In regression analyses, being married, younger age, and worse preoperative sexual function were related to greater sexual function improvements. Postoperatively, the participants' FSFI total scores were indistinguishable from those of published normative controls (29.4 ± 4.3 versus 30.5 ± 5.3, P = .18). CONCLUSION: FSD resolved in a large percentage of women after bariatric surgery. Sexual functioning in the entire sample improved to levels consistent with those of normative controls. This improvement in sexual function did not depend on surgery type or weight loss amount and appears to be an additional benefit for women undergoing bariatric surgery.

Pre- to postoperative physical activity changes in bariatric surgery patients: self report vs. objective measures.

Bariatric surgery patients report significant pre- to postoperative increases in physical activity (PA). However, it is unclear whether objective measures would corroborate these changes. The present study compared self-reported and accelerometer-based estimates of changes in moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) from pre- (pre-op) to 6 months postsurgery (post-op). Twenty bariatric surgery (65% laparoscopic-adjustable gastric banding, 35% gastric bypass) patients (46.2 ± 9.8 years, 88% female, pre-op BMI = 50.8 ± 9.7 kg/m(2)) wore RT3 accelerometers as an objective measure of MVPA and completed the Paffenbarger Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) as a subjective measure before and 6 months after bariatric surgery. Time (min/week) spent in MVPA was calculated for the PPAQ and RT3 (≥ 1-min and ≥ 10-min bouts) at pre-op and post-op. Self-reported MVPA increased fivefold from pre-op to post-op (44.6 ± 80.8 to 212.3 ± 212.4 min/week; P < 0.005). By contrast, the RT3 showed nonsignificant decreases in MVPA for both ≥ 1-min (186.0 ± 169.0 to 151.2 ± 118.3 min/week) and ≥ 10-min (41.3 ± 109.3 to 39.8 ± 71.3 min/week) bouts. At pre-op, the percentage of participants who accumulated ≥ 150-min/week of MVPA in bouts ≥ 10-min according to the PPAQ and RT3 was identical (10%). However, at post-op, 55% of participants reported compliance with the recommendation compared to 5% based on RT3 measurement (P = 0.002). Objectively-measured changes in MVPA from pre-op to 6 months post-op appear to be much smaller than self-reported changes. Further research involving larger samples is needed to confirm these findings and to determine whether self-report and objective PA measures are differentially associated with surgical weight loss outcomes.