This systematic review identified the instruments used in assessing quality of life (QoL) in bariatric patients. Specifically, we examined how patients' appearance changes following bariatric surgery have been assessed in the literature.
Methods:
A search of the literature was conducted via electronic databases, concerning bariatric patient QoL after surgery. Studies were only included if they were: (1) full-length papers, (2) published in English, and (3) contained empirical use of an instrument to measure bariatric patient QoL postsurgery. The analysis consisted of 198 empirical references with a total of 41 different instruments to measure bariatric patient QoL. These instruments were cited 301 times across the literature.
Results:
Two categories of instruments used for measuring QoL following bariatric surgery were identified: generic and bariatric specific. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was most frequently used in literature (n=79, 26.25%), followed by the Moorehead–Ardelt Quality of Life Questionnaire (M-A QoLQ; n=63, 20.93%).
Conclusion:
A growing trend was evident of instruments that include appearance as a measurement construct for QoL in bariatric patients. However, no unified instrument exists for measuring all domains of appearance-related factors following bariatric surgery. Understanding all aspects of bariatric patient QoL, including appearance-related factors, is necessary to provide optimal support postsurgery.
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