Postoperative Follow-Up Compliance Among Breast Surgery Patients at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital

Regular postoperative follow-up is critical for monitoring breast surgery outcomes, detecting recurrence early, and managing postoperative complications. However, compliance with follow-up appointments in Nigerian oncological surgical practice is often poor due to socioeconomic and infrastructural barriers. This study examines postoperative follow-up compliance among breast surgery patients at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Cross River State, South South Nigeria, from 2020 to 2023. A retrospective cohort of 110 patients who underwent breast surgery for benign or malignant disease was reviewed. Follow-up attendance at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months was tracked. Factors associated with non-compliance were assessed using logistic regression. Only 52% of patients attended all four scheduled follow-up visits. Loss to follow-up was highest at the 6-month visit. Distance from the hospital, transportation costs, resumption of work, and feeling well were the most common reasons for non-compliance. Malignant cases had higher early follow-up compliance but comparable attrition at 12 months. The study recommends text message appointment reminder systems, subsidy of transportation costs for low-income patients, and integration of telehealth follow-up consultations for stable postoperative breast surgery patients in South South Nigeria. Keywords: breast surgery, postoperative follow-up, compliance, Calabar, oncology