WHERE DO BARIATRIC PATIENTS ATTEND A STRUCTURED FOLLOW-UP PROGRAM BESIDES IN SPECIALIZED OUTPATIENT CLINICS? A QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY

Introduction While nonadherence to follow-up after bariatric surgery is common, this follow-up appointments are necessary for prevention of post-operative complications, monitoring of nutritional status and long-term weight maintenance.

Objectives The aim of this study was to examine if patients who were lost to follow-up, defined as not attending the bariatric outpatient clinic (OC) for their 12 or 18 months appointments, had any other follow-up checkups in primary care.

Methods 93 out of 220 patients operated between July 2016 and August 2017 did not attend their 12 or 18 months follow-up appointment at OC. They were contacted by telephone and a structured interview regarding follow-up visits at other providers was conducted.

Results 68 (73,1 %) patients responded to the interview questions. The majority indicated regular appointments at other institutions (63 (92,8 %)) such as their general practitioner (GP; 29 (42,6 %)). 6 (8,8 %), their surgeon (SN), 1 (1,5 %) hepatologist and 4 (5,9 %) other outpatient clinics (OOC). Some of the patients choose to attend two or three different providers. Only 5 (7,4 %) had no kind of post bariatric surgery care.

Conclusion Compliance to follow-up 12- and 18-months post-surgery at other providers besides the OC seems high. Almost 70 % of the patients visit their GP. Hence, future research should focus on the development of standardization of management and treatment of lifelong aftercare in primary care of patients who underwent bariatric surgery.

Disclosure of Interest None declared

Publication History

Article published online:
16 June 2021