Background

In 2021, we initiated a quality improvement project to assess if our dietitians effectively taught preoperative nutrition. Our program's registered dietitians created a 27-question nutrition quiz which was given to all patients at their initial dietitian visit prior to any education. Patients were not given a copy of the quiz or the correct answers. The identical quiz was readministered prior to surgery. We hypothesized that quiz scores would increase with education. We found that scores increased after participation in 3-6 preoperative dietitian appointments. We also hypothesized that patients scoring above average on their quiz would have greater postoperative weight loss.All bariatric surgery patients were given the quiz prior to seeing the dietitian for their initial preoperative medical weight loss visit. Patients seeking a revision were excluded. The average quiz score prior to seeing a dietitian was 76.2%. The average quiz score prior to surgery was 85.7%. 88 patients who completed both pre-education and pre-operative nutrition quizzes are now one year postoperation. Mean excess weight loss for patients that scored above average on their post-education quiz is 69.5%. Mean excess weight loss for patients that scored below average is 59.3%.Patients who scored above average on their post-nutrition education quiz had better weight loss at one year postoperation compared to their peers who scored below average. As insurance mandates for preoperative nutrition education are less emphasized bariatric programs should continue to insist on comprehensive preoperative education to increase nutrition knowledge and improve postoperative weight loss.