Underoppfølging

Underoppfølging refers to insufficient or inadequate follow-up after an intervention or service, resulting in limited monitoring of outcomes, side effects, or ongoing needs. It is used primarily in healthcare, but can also apply to social services, rehabilitation, and public health programs. The term captures a gap between initial contact and ongoing assessment.

In healthcare, underoppfølging can occur after hospital discharge, during treatment of chronic diseases, after surgical procedures, or in mental health care. It may involve missed appointments, delays in lab monitoring, or failure to adjust treatment based on test results or patient-reported symptoms.

Contributing factors include limited resources, high turnover or fragmentation of services, poor care coordination, ambiguous responsibilities, patient-related barriers (work, transportation, health literacy), and lack of systematic reminders or follow-up protocols.

Consequences include delayed detection of complications or disease progression, preventable readmissions, suboptimal treatment outcomes, reduced patient safety, and potential deterioration in quality of life. Underoppfølging can disproportionately affect vulnerable groups.

Strategies to prevent or reduce underoppfølging include structured discharge planning, case management, proactive scheduling and reminders, use of digital health tools and telemedicine, risk stratification to prioritize follow-up, and adherence to standardized guidelines. Effective communication across providers and patient education are essential.

The concept is closely related to continuity of care and structured follow-up protocols.