Patients with chronic diseases who have the same doctor have better survival

According to a study published in the journal BMJ Open

Keeping the same doctor as long as possible could be a protective factor against death, according to a study recently published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ Open), after carried out an exhaustive follow-up between the mortality rate and continuity in medical care by the same professional.

The research aims to reflect the importance of personal relationships in medical care and patient confidence in the health professional. It also reveals that advances in medicine have been mainly technical and impersonal, which has reduced the human side of medicine

In this regard, Dr. Mauricio León Rivera, Medical Director of the Cancer Detection Center and Surgeon Oncologist the clinic Ricardo Palma says that the relationship between the doctor and his patient plays an important role in medical practice and is essential for the provision of high quality medical care in terms of diagnosis and in particular treatment of the He also stated that Continuity of care occurs when a patient and a doctor see each other and, therefore, know each other. "It improves communication, patient satisfaction, respect for medical advice and less use of health services," he said.

Previous studies have shown that continuity of care is linked to a series of benefits, such as: Greater interest in medical advice, better vaccine acceptance, and other preventative measures, in addition to less use of the hospital emergency.

Dr. Mauricio León also said that we are at a time when news published in the media is focusing on new machines and innovative technologies, this article shows that the human side of medicine is still a very important factor.

The work was developed at the Faculty of Medicine of St Leonard's Practice Hospital in Exeter / England, which badyzed the results of 22 studies in different time frames, all published from the year 2010, and which were conducted in a total of nine different countries, from the United States. UU in England, South Korea and Israel.