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Global Survey on Social Media Use Among Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons
An IFSO-Endorsed Initiative

The rapid expansion of social media platforms has significantly influenced communication, education, and professional interaction within the field of metabolic and bariatric surgery. Surgeons increasingly engage with platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok for patient education, professional networking, academic exchange, and the dissemination of surgical and scientific information.

Social media has also become an important source of information and support for patients before and after metabolic and bariatric surgery, facilitating access to peer communities and health-related content. However, the accuracy, quality, and ethical standards of information shared on these platforms remain inconsistent. A considerable volume of content is produced by non-medical individuals, raising concerns regarding misinformation, patient safety, professional conduct, and the potential influence on patient expectations and decision-making.

In this context, a comprehensive understanding of current social media practices among metabolic and bariatric surgeons worldwide is essential. This IFSO-endorsed survey aims to assess patterns of social media use, motivations, perceived benefits, challenges, and ethical considerations from the perspective of practicing surgeons. The results will contribute to the development of evidence-based recommendations, support responsible digital engagement, and inform future educational initiatives and policy guidance within the global metabolic and bariatric surgery community.

Participation Information

Voluntary participation: Participation is entirely voluntary, and you may choose to discontinue at any point without consequence.
Consent: Participation in the survey constitutes consent to use your responses for academic and professional research purposes.
Time commitment: The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Data management: No third-party data collection provider is involved, and survey data will not be shared with any external entity.
Funding: The survey distribution fee (USD $500) is covered personally by the principal investigator. No external funding or sponsorship has been received.
Collaboration and endorsement: This survey is conducted in collaboration with an international research team and is endorsed by the International Federation for the Surgery and Other Therapies for Obesity (IFSO). Collaborative authorship will be offered to respondents who wish to provide their professional information, in accordance with established academic authorship criteria.


With sincere appreciation,

Thibaut Coste MD (France)

Panagiotis Lainas MD, MSc, MSurg, PhD (Greece)

Tamer Abdelbaki MD, PhD (Egypt)

Carlos Zerrweck MD, PhD (Mexico)

Sonja Chiappetta MD, PhD (Italy)

Daniel Moritz Felsenreich MD, PhD (Austria)
POPULATION
1.Name:
2.Surname:
3.Affiliation:
4.In what country do you work?
5.Gender:
6.Age:
7.Practice:
8.Status:
9.Number of metabolic bariatric procedures performed per year:
REGULATIONS
10.Are you aware of national or regional regulations/guidelines that govern how healthcare professionals can use social media in your country?
11.According to the regulations in your country, are you allowed to publish content related to your professional activity?
12.According to the regulations in your country, are you allowed to advertise or only to provide information?
13.How does the hospital or clinic management perceive your activity on social media?
14.Have you received any formal training or guidance (e.g., from a medical board, hospital, or legal advisor) on ethical or legal use of social media?
15.Do you have protocols in place to ensure patient confidentiality and informed consent before posting any patient-related content on social media?
16.Have you ever encountered legal, ethical, or professional issues related to your social media activity as a bariatric surgeon (e.g., patient complaints, board warnings, content takedown)?
17.To what extent do current regulations limit your ability to promote your bariatric practice on social media?
18.Does your country have a governmental agency that regulates advertising in the medical field, requiring to have special permits ?
PRACTICAL USE
19.Which platforms do you regularly use in relation to your professional activity?
20.Do you have specific profiles for your practice, besides your personal one?
21.How much time do you spend per week on social media?
22.How much time do you spend per week on social media, in relation to your professional activity?
23.Do you have a person or agency that helps you manage your digital communication?
24.How often do you post or engage on professional social media accounts related to your bariatric practice?
25.Do you host live information sessions on social media?
26.Do you collaborate commercially with patient influencers?
27.Do you collaborate commercially with industry partners?
28.Do you collaborate with other medical professionals?
29.How many followers do you have across all platforms combined?
30.Do you use artificial intelligence to help you with content in your social media platforms ?
OBJECTIVES
31.What are your primary objectives for using social media in your bariatric practice? (Select up to 3)
32.How important is social media to achieving your professional objectives (e.g., practice growth, reputation, patient education)?
Very important
Moderately important
Slightly important
Not important
33.Do you have a defined social media strategy or plan for your bariatric practice?
34.Which type of content do you believe is most effective in achieving your objectives on social media? (Choose up to 3)
IMPACT ON YOUR ACTIVITY
35.Has your use of social media (e.g., Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube) led to an increase in the number of bariatric procedures you perform annually?
36.Approximately what percentage of your new patients in the past year discovered your practice through social media platforms?
37.How much do you currently invest monthly in social media marketing or management (ads, content creation, influencer collaborations, etc.)?
38.What is your perceived return on investment (ROI) from your social media presence in terms of patient acquisition and revenue?
39.Which social media platform has been most effective for promoting your bariatric practice? (Select one or more)
PERCEPTION
40.How do you perceive the role of social media in healthcare ?
41.Do you feel you have control over social media (browsing and publishing)?
42.Which platform do you think is the most suitable in 2025/2026 for a surgeon seeking information about metabolic and bariatric surgery?
43.Which platform do you think is the most suitable in 2025/2026 for a metabolic and bariatric surgeon wishing to communicate?
44.What is your general perception of the use of social media in the medical field?
45.Do you think a metabolic bariatric surgeon should communicate on social media?
46.Do you think patients can be informed/educated through social media?
47.Do you think healthcare professionals can be informed/educated through social media?
48.Do you think you can increase your patient volume through social media?
49.Do you think you can increase your income through social media?
50.Do you think being active on social media can be an asset for a medical career?
51.Do you plan to become more active on social media?
52.Have you ever had a negative experience related to your social media presence?
53.Do you think that, in your country, surgeons on social media comply with ethical and professional standards?
PERCEIVED RISKS OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE
54.To what extent are you concerned about cybersecurity risks (e.g., hacking, account takeover) when using social media for professional purposes?
Not concerned at all
Slightly concerned
Moderately concerned
Very concerned
Extremely concerned
55.I worry that my social media content (photos, videos, patient-related material) could be misused or taken out of context.
Not at all
Slightly
Moderately
Very
Strongly
56.Concerns about identity theft or impersonation influence how actively I engage on social media professionally.
Not at all
Slightly
Moderately
Very
Strongly
Not concerned
57.I believe that social media use as a surgeon can create potential legal or reputation-related risks.
Strongly disagree
Disagree
I do not know
Agree
Strongly agree
58.Have you encountered patients influenced by inaccurate social media information?
AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT
59.What support or resources would help you improve your social media presence as a bariatric surgeon? (Select all that apply)
60.In your opinion, what should professional bodies (e.g., bariatric societies, medical boards) do to support surgeons in using social media more effectively and ethically?