Whoever visits the same doctor lowers his premature mortality risk

What advantages does it always have to go to the same doctor??

Especially in old age, the health problems become more common. For this reason, more and more visits to the doctor are needed. Researchers have now found that it reduces the risk of premature death when people visit the same doctor each time.

Researchers at the University of Exeter and the University of Manchester found in their joint study that people should seek the same doctor every time they need medical treatment. This leads to a reduced risk of premature death. The physicians published the results of their study in the English-language journal "BMJ Open".

Does it make any difference to our life expectancy if we always go to the same doctor? (Image: Jonas Glaubitz / fotolia.com)

Connection between doctor and patient is very important

Previous studies have already shown that continuity of care has a number of advantages, such as more accurate medical advice, better acceptance of vaccines and other preventive measures, and fewer emergency hospital admissions. Now, researchers also seem to have found a link with mortality, suggesting that the link between patients and their physicians may be more important than previously thought. At a time when it's always about new machines and new technologies, the current study shows that the human side of medicine continues to be very important and even a matter of life or death, study author Sir Denis Pereira Gray of the University of Exeter.

The results of 22 studies were analyzed

The research team analyzed the results of 22 studies, all of which have been published since 2010. These took place in a total of nine different countries, from the USA to England, South Korea and Israel. Although the studies were too varied (in terms of implementation) to gather and analyze their findings, the team found that 18 of the studies showed a clear association between increased continuity of care and lower mortality rates.

Phenomenon applies to specialists and general practitioners

For example, if a patient has undergone colorectal surgery in a hospital, the risk of dying within one year is doubled if the patient visits another surgeon rather than having all surgeries performed by the same surgeon. This phenomenon applies to both specialists and general practitioners, says Gray. Studies were analyzed that included surgeons and psychiatrists, so the effect seems to span the entire medicine, the expert adds.

Doctors need to build up knowledge about their patients

The current study supports earlier work that suggests that patients feel better when they discuss and discuss problems with their doctor. Doctors are able to build up knowledge about patients, which means they can better design counseling and treatment, the researchers explain. If people become ill or have multiple health problems, they may need to visit a wider range of physicians and are likely to be at greater risk of premature death. The researchers explained that many of the studies have attempted to address this issue.

Doctors need to have enough appointments to build a relationship

When people are sick, it is very worrying for them and it is very important to have someone you can trust and talk to about problems and illness, say the doctors. Continuity of care is a good thing, but some doctors may find it difficult to get an appointment. Only when there are enough opportunities for appointments, doctors and patients can begin to build a relationship, so the study authors' conclusion. (As)