Relationship Between Preoperative Surgical Fear, Anxiety, and Satisfaction Levels in Individuals Choosing Bariatric Surgery Tourism: A Descriptive, Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Background: Bariatric surgical tourism is a rapidly growing sector. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preoperative surgical fear, anxiety, and satisfaction levels regarding bariatric surgery tourism processes and to examine the relationships between these variables.

Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between July and November 2024 with foreign patients who visited the general surgery clinic of a healthcare institution for bariatric surgery within the scope of health tourism. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the Patient Information Form, Surgical Fear Scale, and Surgical Anxiety Scale. All results were evaluated within a 95% confidence interval, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 39.39 ± 9.35 years, and 88.5% were from the UK. Additionally, 88.5% reported choosing bariatric surgery tourism due to high surgical costs in their home country. The mean score for surgical fear was 37.68 ± 20.58, while the mean score for surgical anxiety was 19.53 ± 12.90. Patients who lacked prior knowledge about bariatric surgery tourism had significantly higher surgical fear and anxiety scores (p < 0.05). Age, fear and anxiety associated with undergoing surgery in a foreign country, and total surgical anxiety scale score were identified as independent predictors of patients' satisfaction with their bariatric surgery tourism experience (R² = 0.130; p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Preoperative knowledge levels and satisfaction with the information provided significantly impacted surgical fear and anxiety levels among bariatric surgery tourism patients.