THE WEEK · JULY 29, 2018 11HEALTHDID YOU KNOW
Addiction to digital
and video gaming
has been recog-
nised as a mental
health disorder by
the World Health
Organization.
WHO’s International
Classification of
Diseases (ICD)SEE THE SAME
DOCTOR TO LIVE
LONGER
The British study published
in BMJ Open examined
whether seeing the same
doctor over time has any
effect on mortality. The
researchers reviewed 22
studies from nine countries
with different cultures
and health systems.
They included patients
with all conditions and
all ages. Among these,
18 studies showed that
sticking with the same
doctor was associated with
significantly fewer deaths
compared to switching
doctors.
This applied not just for
primary care doctors, but
for specialists such as
surgeons and psychiatrists
as well.
“Continuity of care happens
when a patient and a
doctor see each other
repeatedly and get to know
each other. This leads to
better communication,
patient satisfaction,
adherence to medical
advice and much lower
use of hospital services.
As medical technology
and new treatments
dominate the medical
news, the human aspect of
medical practice has been
neglected. Our study shows
it is potentially life-saving
and should be prioritised,”
said the study author.safe and effective as oxytocin
in preventing PPH, does not
require refrigeration and
retains its efficacy for at least
three years even when stored
at 30 degrees Celsius and 75
per cent relative humidity.
The clinical trial included
30,000 women who gave birth
vaginally in 10 countries. Each
woman was randomised to get
a single injection of either heat-
stable carbetocin or oxytocin
immediately after vaginal
birth. Both drugs were equally
effective in preventing excessive
bleeding after birth.
The findings were published
in the New England Journal of
Medicine.