• Grace F Chao, Jeffrey T Kullgren, Rachel Ross, Aaron J Bonham, and Amir A Ghaferi.
• National Clinician Scholars Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
• Ann. Surg. 2023 Jan 1; 277 (1): e70e77e70-e77.

ObjectiveTo examine effects of a financial incentives program on follow-up and weight loss after bariatric surgery.Summary Background DataConsistent follow-up may improve weight loss and other health outcomes after bariatric surgery. Yet, rates of follow-up after surgery are often low.MethodsPatients from 3 practices within a statewide collaborative were invited to participate in a 6-month financial incentives program. Participants received incentives for attending postoperative appointments at 1, 3, and 6 months which doubled when participants weighed less than their prior visit. Participants were matched with contemporary patients from control practices by demographics, starting body mass index and weight, surgery date, and procedure. Preintervention estimates used matched historic patients from the same program and control practices with the criteria listed above. Patients between the 2 historic groups were additionally matched on surgery date to ensure balance on matched variables. We conducted differ-ence-in-differences analyses to examine incentives program effects. Follow-up attendance and percent excess weight loss were measured postoperative months 1, 3, 6, and 12.ResultsOne hundred ten program participants from January 1, 2018 to July 31, 2019 were matched to 203 historic program practice patients (November 20 to December 27, 2017). The control group had 273 preinter-vention patients and 327 postintervention patients. In difference-in-differ-ences analyses, the intervention increased follow-up rates at 1 month (+14.8%, P <0.0001), 3months (+29.4%, P <0.0001), and 6 months (+16.4%, P <0.0001), but not at 12 months. There were no statistically significant differences in excess weight loss.ConclusionsA financial incentives program significantly increased follow-up after bariatric surgery for up to 6 months, but did not increase weight loss. Our study supports use of incentivized approaches as one way to improve postoperative follow-up, but may not translate into greater weight loss without additional supports.Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

12 keywords...

hide…