The weight loss surgery journey: a view from the patients' side of the lens

Bariatric surgery is a recognised cost effective treatment to reduce weight and associated co-morbidities in severely obese people. In the UK service improvements to the surgery pathway are currently constrained by a lack of in-depth insight of patient experience. This study has been developed through expert led coproduction consultations. It adopts longitudinal creative approaches to capture the expectations and experiences of patients undergoing surgery. This presentation reflects on the advantages of the triangulated methodology that has been adopted using interviews, Photovoice and standardised quality of life tools. Patients recruited from two research sites will participate in all methods pre and post-surgery. Analysis will be conducted using Framework techniques. Photovoice uses participatory action research methods to illuminate how people reconstruct their narrative following a life changing event. Participants are invited to create photographs to explore their health, illness, behaviour changes and service experiences in the context of their everyday lives. The photographs will be used as a vehicle for discussion during the interviews. The method has been used previously with various stigmatized groups, and in this study with obese populations Photovoice aims to empower the sharing of experiences to develop a narrative on the real impacts of weight loss surgery. This use of photography has the potential to improve self-efficacy in the research process and reduce the sense of helplessness participants can experience. Using dialogue generated from the patient's side of the lens, Photovoice methods can identify problems with interventions and public health programs with a view to inform health policy.