Kristina R Lucente, Salma M Abedullah, NaYoung K Yang, Maximilian F Muñoz, Konstantin Khariton, Francisco J Alvarado, Edward S Lee, Serah K Adunah, Ziad C Sifri
A structured, community-based follow-up protocol achieved sustained, high follow-up rates across nearly a decade of multispecialty STSTs. Successful implementation demonstrates a scalable, reproducible framework for improving continuity of care and postoperative outcome assessment in global surgery.
INTRODUCTION: Postoperative follow-up, an essential component of surgical care, remains a challenge during short-term surgical trips (STSTs). A previously described community-based follow-up protocol achieved follow-up exceeding 90% in Sierra Leone. This study evaluated the reproducibility of this protocol in a larger, multispecialty STST and examined factors associated with loss to follow-up.
METHODS: A retrospective review of eight multispecialty STSTs to Mampong, Ghana (2016-2025) was performed. Patient demographics, procedural characteristics, and follow-up completion were analyzed using univariate and multivariable methods.
RESULTS: Among 505 patients, 465(92.1%) completed follow-up. Age, gender, and case complexity were not associated with follow-up. Specialty, anesthesia type, and length of stay were significant on univariate analysis, but not on multivariate analysis.
CONCLUSION: A structured, community-based follow-up protocol achieved sustained, high follow-up rates across nearly a decade of multispecialty STSTs. Successful implementation demonstrates a scalable, reproducible framework for improving continuity of care and postoperative outcome assessment in global surgery.