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

ABSTRACT:

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 c

SUBMITTER: Shapiro M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8006632 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature