Who has a reliable doctor is less likely to die sooner – Galileo

The cover story of the June issue of GALILEO highlights the difficulties of close contact between doctors and patients. , however, shows that this relationship is more important than previously thought

Although earlier studies have already emphasized the benefits of maintaining the same "For a long time, because they are better informed about their own health and take more preventive measures, the new researchers reviewed the studies to conclude that lifelong care can save lives. "that the focus in the press is on new machines and technologies, this is an article that shows and the human side of medicine is always tr s important, and even a matter of life or death, "said Denis Pereira Gray, the first author of the research.

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As published with his team at the BMJ Open, which includes university researchers From Exeter and Manchester, they researched previous published research to uncover studies that included data on the continuity of the professional relationship between doctor and patient, as well as information on mortality. The team found 22 studies meeting the criteria, all published since 2010. They were conducted in nine different countries, from the United States to England, South Korea and Israel.

Although the studies were conducted in different ways, their results were grouped and analyzed together. Scientists found that 18 studies showed a strong link between increased continuity of care and reduced mortality rates.

A colorectal surgery patient in a hospital was twice as likely to die in the year if had a different surgeon during his readmission. "This phenomenon applies to specialists and general practitioners," Gray told The Guardian newspaper. "We find articles that include surgeons and psychiatrists, so we think it's a human effect that goes through medicine."

All studies, however, took into account the full range of other possible influences such as age, smoking status, and socio-economic status.

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