Pre–Lap-Band group education in Medicaid population: does it really make a difference?

Background: The effect of group education classes before a Lap-Band procedure has not been well defined. We hypothesized that in a Medicaid population, the completion of a standardized 12-week multidisciplinary preoperative program (SMPP) would significantly improve the preoperative and early postoperative weight loss. All procedures were performed at a University-affiliated community hospital from 2006 to 2007. Methods: A prospectively collected database of 292 patients who underwent Lap-Band placement was retrospectively reviewed. All patients in the study cohort were encouraged to participate in the SMPP, which included medical, psychological, and nutritional interventions. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their participation in the SMPP program: SMPP compliant and non-SMPP compliant. The postoperative weight loss of these 2 groups was then compared using the general linear models for repeated measures statistical analysis. Results: No significant difference was found in the mean baseline excess body weight between the 2 groups (74 +/- 20 kg in the SMPP-compliant and 76 +/- 20 kg in the non SMPP-compliant participants). The mean baseline body mass index (47 +/- 7 versus 48 +/- 72 kg/m(2) for the SMPP-compliant and non SMPP-compliant participants) was also similar in the 2 groups. The postoperative follow-up rate was 94.5% at 1 month, 72.3% at 6 months, and 52.7% at 12 months. The excess weight loss was significantly greater in the SMPP compliant group than in the noncompliant group during the observed 12-month follow-up period (P = .04, by general linear models for repeated measures). Conclusion: In a Medicaid population, implementation of an intensive preoperative SMPP resulted in a significant improvement in the short-term weight loss after Lap-Band placement. (Surg Obes Relat Dis 2010:6:356-360.) (C) 2010 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. All rights reserved.