Perioperative care map improves compliance with best practices for the morbidly obese

Ian Solsky, Alex Edelstein, Michael Brodman, Ronald Kaleya, Meg Rosenblatt, Calie Santana, David L. Feldman, Patricia Kischak, Donna Somerville, Santosh Mudiraj, I. Michael Leitman, Peter Shamamian

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Morbid obesity can complicate perioperative management. Best practice guidelines have been published but are typically followed only in bariatric patients. Little is known regarding physician awareness of and compliance with these clinical recommendations for nonbariatric operations. Our study evaluated if an educational intervention could improve physician recognition of and compliance with established best practices for all morbidly obese operatively treated patients. Methods A care map outlining best practices for morbidly obese patients was distributed to all surgeons and anesthesiologists at 4 teaching hospitals in 2013. Pre- and postintervention surveys were sent to participants in 2012 and in 2015 to evaluate changes in clinical practice. A chart audit performed postintervention determined physician compliance with distributed guidelines. Results In the study, 567 physicians completed the survey in 2012 and 375 physicians completed the survey in 2015. Postintervention, statistically significant improvements were seen in the percentage of surgeons and anesthesiologists combined who reported changing their management of morbidly obese, operatively treated patients to comply with best practices preoperatively (89% vs 59%), intraoperatively (71% vs 54%), postoperatively (80% vs 57%), and overall (88% vs 72%). Results were similar when surgeons and anesthesiologists were analyzed separately. A chart audit of 170 cases from the 4 hospitals found that 167 (98%) cases were compliant with best practices. Conclusion After care map distribution, the percentage of physicians who reported changing their management to match best practices significantly improved. These findings highlight the beneficial impact this educational intervention can have on physician behavior. Continued investigation is needed to evaluate the influence of this intervention on clinical outcomes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1682-1688
Number of pages7
JournalSurgery (United States)
Volume160
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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