IFSO ENDORSEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF SURVEYS

Premise

IFSO can assist its members who would like help with the content and / or distribution of surveys to the broader membership of IFSO. This is in keeping with the mission of IFSO:

TO UNIFY THE GLOBAL SCIENTIFIC, SURGICAL AND INTEGRATED HEALTH COMMUNITIES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE, COLLABORATION AND ESTABLISHING UNIVERSAL STANDARDS OF CARE FOR THE TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH ADIPOSITY-BASED CHRONIC DISEASE.

IFSO can assist by reviewing the content, suggesting changes and distributing materials (e.g. background to the survey, letters of invitation, questionnaires) to its members. However, IFSO will not be responsible for the follow up of responses, response rate, nor for the collection/analysis of responses/data. The surveys and their analyses will be the sole responsibility of the issuing member.

However, IFSO has a responsibility to ensure that the purpose of the survey is relevant and that the internal validity of the methodology is sound and of a high standard. Accordingly, absolute criteria have been developed to ensure that these requirements are met.

Distributing the survey will be pending review and approval of IFSO scientific committee.

Application documents:

1. For endorsement and dissemination

   Documentary evidence of the following must accompany the Application:

   • A Letter of invitation addressed to potential research subjects or email recipients shall accompany the copy of the questionnaire / survey, either attached at the top of the questionnaire or as a separate document. The letters should include the following elements:
     • A brief description of the purpose of the survey
     • The voluntary nature of the survey with the statement: “Participating in the survey constitutes consent to use the participant's answers for research purposes.”
     • The extent of the participant's involvement, including the time required
     • Details of privacy and confidentiality
     • The link to the actual survey and the document in WORD format with all the questions of the Survey.
     • Please state if you are using any third-party service provider i.e data pooling company and highlight data confidentiality/storage.
     • Please state if you are receiving third-party funding to cover the cost of the survey.
     • IRB approval is required unless the survey can be approved as “exempt”
     • Clearly state the organization/ institution that owns or runs the survey.
     • IFSO will distribute the survey to IFSO members. Surveys directed towards patients may be distributed through surgeons or allied health professionals.

   Elements to be evaluated:

   • The Survey is well-designed
   • The questions are clearly defined
   • The importance of the research is well described
   • The survey has demonstrable internal validity (methodology) and external validity (applicability)
   • The survey aims are consistent with IFSO philosophy
   • The project is novel and does not replicate previous/ongoing studies

   In some cases, in order to approve the endorsement, the IFSO Scientific Committee might request the applicant to edit parts of the survey.

   Survey Endorsement & Distribution Fees

   Survey Distribution will require a fee of US $200 (one email) or US $250 (two emails) to cover administrative expenses.

   Note

   • IFSO will distribute the survey material to its individual members but cannot guarantee secondary distribution beyond that.
   • IFSO will not be responsible for follow up of recipients. If a second distribution or reminder is required, this will require a higher Survey Distribution Fee. (see above Fees)
   • If the application is complete, you will receive a reply within 2 weeks (endorsement approval, denial, request of changes).
   • If your survey is approved, you will receive the invoice to pay. After receipt of payment, the survey can be considered endorsed and it will be circulated to IFSO membership.

People's first language:

• Use patients with obesity, people with obesity, woman/man/child with obesity
• Use severe obesity (or reference BMI range or Class), never morbid obesity or super-obesity or extreme-obesity
• Eliminate "success/failure" "recidivism" "non-compliant" "gold-standard" "last-resort" sort of language
• Avoid weight-loss surgery, instead use bariatric-metabolic surgery
• Imagery (no headless, stereotypical/stigma = takeaway boxes, fast food, ill-fitting clothes, etc.)

• BMI 30 <35kg/m2 Obesity I
• BMI 35 <40kg/m2 Obesity II
• BMI 40 <50kg/m2 Obesity III
• BMI 50 <60kg/m2 Obesity IV instead of "Super Obesity"
• BMI 60 <70kg/m2 Obesity V instead of "Super-Super Obesity"

Download here Application Form