ISRCTN - ISRCTN11076390: Bariatric Surgery and Education

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
The use of bariatric surgery (also called weight loss surgery) for severely obese patients (Body Mass Index BMI ≥ 40kg/m² respectively BMI ≥ 35 kg/ m² with comorbidities) has proven to be an effective treatment method in recent years. However, longitudinal studies indicate weight regain after the initial successful weight-loss period. For successful weight loss, patients need a high compliance and adherence to nutritional and lifestyle changes. Because of the many psychosocial and lifestyle challenges after surgery, there may be a need for professional support. Until now, no study has investigated the impact of a postoperative psycho-educational program on weight course, quality of life, or self-efficacy. The aim of this study is to prove how well a psycho-educative intervention works in patients after weight loss surgery.

Who can participate?
Severely obese patients (BMI ≥ 40kg/m² respectively BMI ≥ 35 kg/m² with co-morbidities) who are going for weight loss surgery.

What does the study involve?
120 patients undergoing weight loss surgery are randomly allocated in an intervention or control group after the operation. Patients in the control group receive conventional post-surgical visits. Patients in the intervention group receive a one year psycho-educative group program in addition to conventional care. This program includes face-to-face and video-conferencing sessions. Sessions are conducted by an interdisciplinary team and include all the topics that are considered to be important for severely obese patients.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The benefits of participating in this trial are as follows: all participants will be monitored closely by a professional interdisciplinary team throughout the course of the study. In addition, comprehensive psychosomatic diagnostics procedure will be carried out. Participants who are allocated to the intervention group may participate in a psycho-educative group program conducted by an interdisciplinary expert team.
Participation does not involve imminent risks of physical injury or harm.

Where is the study run from?
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany (Dr. sc. hum. Beate Wild, Dipl. Psych. Katharina Hünnemeyer, Dr.med Bernhard Hain, Prof. Dr. med. Wolfgang Herzog)
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tuebingen, Germany (Dr. med. Martin Teufel, Prof. Dr. med. Stephan Zipfel)
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Tuebingen, Germany (Prof. Dr. med. Alfred Königsrainer)
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany (PD Dr. med. Beat Müller)
- Hospital Sachsenhausen,Frankfurt, Germany (Prof. Dr. med. Rudolf Weiner)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study started in October 2009 and was expected to last approximately 40 months.

Who is funding the study?
German Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Beate Wild, Beate.Wild@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Dr Martin Teufel, Martin.Teufel@med.uni-tuebingen.de

Trial website

Contact information

Type

Scientific

Primary contact

Dr Beate Wild

ORCID ID

Contact details

Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics
University Hospital Heidelberg
Im Neuenheimer Feld 410
Heidelberg
69120
Germany
+49 6221 56 8663
beate.wild@med.uni-heidelberg.de

Additional identifiers

EudraCT number

ClinicalTrials.gov number

Protocol/serial number

German Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF) 01G10853

Study information

Scientific title

Investigation of the efficacy of a psycho-educative program following bariatric surgery a randomized controlled trial

Acronym

BaSE

Study hypothesis

The aim of the study is to assess the effect of a postoperative psycho-educative program on weight loss, quality of life, and self-efficacy of bariatric patients.

Ethics approval

1. Ethics Committee of the University of Tuebingen; Gartenstraße 47, D- 72074Tübingen; approved on March 24th , 2009; Ref.-Nr. 86/2009B02
2. Ethics Committee of the University of Heidelberg, Glockengießerei 11/1; D-69115 Heidelberg, approved on May 28th, 2009; Ref.-Nr. S-181/2009

Study design

Randomized controlled two-armed multi-centre trial

Primary study design

Interventional

Secondary study design

Randomised controlled trial

Trial setting

Hospitals

Trial type

Treatment

Patient information sheet

Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet

Condition

Severe obesity, bariatric surgery

Intervention

Ratio of intervention to control-group of 1:1

Patients who undergo bariatric surgery are randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. Patients of the intervention group receive in addition to regular post-surgical visits a psycho-educative program over a period of 12 months. The psycho-educative group-program consists of 14 face-to-face and webcam-sessions which are conducted by an interdisciplinary team. The program includes all topics proposed to be important for severely obese patients. Awareness and self-monitoring of ones behavior is essential and will be commented and trained in each session.

Patients of the control group receive the conventional post- surgical visits.

Intervention type

Other

Phase

Not Applicable

Drug names

Primary outcome measure

1. Weight loss in kilograms at one year after surgery
2. Quality of life at one year after surgery (measured by the SF-36 )
3. Self-efficacy at one year after surgery (measured by the GSE, General Self Efficacy Scale)

Secondary outcome measures

1. Depressive symptoms at one year after surgery (measured by the PHQ)
2. Eating behavior according to the EDE-Q at one year after surgery
3. Composite endpoint consisting of defined criteria regarding weight loss, eating behavior, and depression

Overall trial start date

01/10/2009

Overall trial end date

31/01/2013

Reason abandoned (if study stopped)

Eligibility

Participant inclusion criteria

1. Severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40 or BMI ≥35 with comorbidity) and an indication for bariatric surgery
2. Male or female adult patients aged ≥18 years
3. Written informed consent

Participant type

Patient

Age group

Adult

Gender

Both

Target number of participants

120

Participant exclusion criteria

1. Severe mental health problems or active psychotic disorder
2. Insufficient knowledge of the German language
3. Not being able to give informed consent due to neurological or other illness
4. No internet access
5. Age >65 years

Recruitment start date

01/10/2009

Recruitment end date

31/01/2013

Locations

Countries of recruitment

Germany

Trial participating centre

Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics
Heidelberg
69120
Germany

Sponsor information

Organisation

German Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF) (Germany)

Sponsor details

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
Projektträger im DLR
- Gesundheitsforschung
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
Bonn
53227
Germany