Perception among doctors of Pakistan about using Bariatric Surgery in Morbidly Obese Patients

Introduction: Obesity is a global epidemic, with Pakistan being the ninth most obese country, affecting one in four individuals. Literature suggests that less than 1% of eligible patients opt for bariatric surgery, indicating its underutilization. This is due to physicians' limited understanding of its effectiveness, which affects referral rates. This study aims to evaluate doctors' perceptions of bariatric surgery, including its benefits and complications. Methods This multicenter cross-sectional study, conducted from January to September 2024, included doctors of varying training levels and specialties. Data were collected using non-probability convenience sampling and analysed with STATA 17. P-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results Our study involved 414 doctors, mostly females (63.5%), aged 26-35 years (89.3%), with 0-5 years of experience (76.3%) and primarily from surgical and allied fields (44.4%). Nearly all respondents (96.8%) were aware of bariatric surgery as an effective weight loss tool, views on its safety varied, with 46.86% considering it safe and 21.98% viewing it as cosmetic. Complications were estimated by 41.06% to be 5-10%, and 40.1% thought they could be fatal. About 26.57% lacked confidence in discussing bariatric options, with gender-based differences (p=0.019). Most participants (90.82%), primarily from surgical and allied fields, felt more educational resources were needed, with differences across specialties (p=0.005). Conclusion In conclusion, although doctors acknowledge the effectiveness of bariatric surgery, concerns about safety and complications lead to reluctance in recommending it. Targeted education is essential for doctors to confidently counsel patients about bariatric surgery.