Analysis of the Supportive Care Needs after Metabolic Bariatric Surgery in Germany Using an Adjusted Supportive Care Needs Survey- Short Form (SCNS-SF34)

Currently, metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is the most effective treatment for patients with obesity. While lifelong follow-up care is recommended to support long-term outcomes, follow-up attendance remains suboptimal. With the aim to identify starting points to improve follow-up attendance this study assessed unmet supportive care needs in patients following MBS. Patients who had undergone MBS at a university medical center and attended at least one follow-up appointment were invited to complete an adjusted version of the Supportive Care Needs Survey- Short Form (SCNS-SF34) questionnaire online, along with sociodemographic and medical data. A total of 327 patients were contacted, of whom 260 participated in the study (participation rate 79.5%). The adapted SCNS-SF34 demonstrated good structural coherence and internal consistency in this bariatric population. Reported needs scores ranged from 17.3 for physical and daily living needs to 26.1 for health system and information needs. In within-person comparisons, health system and information needs were significantly higher than all other domains (all p<0.001). Patients with high unmet needs had significantly lower body weight (mean 147kg vs. 156kg, p=0.005) at the time of surgery and were more frequently female (77.7% vs. 59.2%, p<0.001). Health system and information needs represent the most prominent unmet needs after MBS. Routine follow-up care should therefore place greater emphasis on structured patient education, clear communication about available healthcare resources, and individualized information delivery to better address these needs. The adapted SCNS-SF34 demonstrated good structural coherence and internal consistency in MBS patients. Detected needs were similar to those reported in other chronic disease populations. The highest unmet needs were observed in the health system and information domain. Improving patient education on follow-up care may enhance long-term adherence and outcomes after MBS.