Increasing Follow-Up Likelihood in Patients with Chronic Illness

ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room

Living with a chronic illness is almost always a burdensome experience, uniquely affecting each individual. One of the most problematic aspects of chronic illness research is that patients often get lost to follow-up, not returning for their subsequent doctors visits. This is a particularly crucial issue as it doubly disadvantages the patient. Their health may directly suffer from not receiving treatment, but it can also delay finding a treatment or cure because the loss of too many patients can undermine the integrity of research studies. While patients get lost to follow-up for a multitude of reasons, financial and/or mental health reasons are likely involved. However, this area of medicine is notably under-researched, with almost no clear resources linking an individual’s chronic illness to the reasons why they may not follow up. Since advancements in medical care rely on successfully completing clinical trials and other studies, it is critical for researchers to consider the possible root causes of patient failure to follow-up. Being able to address these issues will benefit both researchers and patients alike, by providing innovative new treatments or cures where there is a current need.