Master thesis proposal

Master thesis proposal

Obesity – experiences of gastric bypass. 

Background

Obesity is a major threat to health in both middle- and high-income counties.  As a solution for obesity, BMI >35, operation with gastric bypass surgery is a widely spread method in Sweden. This operation is continuously gaining ground, as it is a cost effective and time saving option to other alternatives. Though there are some complications after surgery that impact quality of life negatively such as infections, haemorrhage, hernia, venous thromboembolism, ulcers, nutritional deficiencies and mortality. There are also conflicting implications of higher prevalence of substance abuse among bariatric surgery patients. Overeating could be a behaviour caused by other life factors that are not taken care of by surgery, which could lead to addiction transfer. Though it might be a good way to loose weight and thus the risk of secondary diseases as Diabetes type 2.  

Aim

How does gastric bypass affect life quality? Is this method more suitable for some patient groups than others? 

Study questions

Many questions are of importance to generate greater insight in how bariatric surgery patients experience this method. How do they feel about this approach as a weight reducing method? How did the operation affect their quality of life? How does patients experience life after surgery? How was life before operation? Did they experience any discomfort post operation? What help did they receive after the operation? What other methods tried before for weight loss? How do they cope with new eating habits? Is there substance abuse? Successful?  

Sampling

Purposive sampling would be taken from patients in age groups 30-50years, undergoing gastric bypass the recent 2-5 years in Stockholm. Semi structured in-depth interviews would be done until answers were similar to each other, (because the time limit I will not use the term saturation, theoretical sampling).  

Analysis

For analysis content analysis would be used to identify the typical responses. See which kind of respondents is more likely to report certain data of life quality, feelings, success and so on.  This to describe the key issue of concern in each group, would this operation be more suitable for some than other, do some patients need extra support to cope aso. Are there any implications of substance abuse in this group? What is the common trait for this?