Accessing specialist obesity care and the impact of COVID-19
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patients’ experiences of accessing specialist weight management and bariatric surgery services, including the impact of COVID-19.
IRAS ID
269160
Contact name
Karen D Coulman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
Medical weight management (WM) and bariatric surgery are important NHS treatments for people living with severe and complex obesity*. Not everyone who is eligible for these services gets access to them, however, and we don’t know what patients think are the main issues affecting access. The COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated access. Many health services have had to change because of the pandemic, including medical WM and bariatric surgery. We don’t know how changes to these services are affecting patients.
This research aims to: 1) Understand patients’ experiences of accessing medical WM and bariatric surgery, including how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting their care, and 2) Develop recommendations to improve future access to these services. This will help health professionals and policy makers in re-designing WM services in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are two stages to the research:
1) Research interviews with patients involved in NHS medical WM and bariatric surgery services.
2) Focus groups with patients, health professionals and policy makers involved in these services.
Patients will be invited to take part in the research through social media. Some may also be invited directly through their NHS WM team. Those that agree to participate will take part in one interview (lasting about 1 hour). If they agree, they may also be invited to take part in one patient focus group lasting 1.5-2 hours.
Professionals will be invited to take part in a focus group through professional networks and contacts of the researchers.
Interviews and focus groups will likely be conducted by telephone or secure internet video link depending on social distancing rules.
This research is funded through the National Institute of Health Research.
*Defined as a body mass index ≥40 kg/m2 or 35-40 kg/m2 with another significant health problem that could be improved by weight loss.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/PR/0742
Date of REC Opinion
8 Jul 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion