title: [Surgically relevant comorbidity: ability to cooperate].
abstract: The ability to cooperate represents an important prognostic factor for the result of any surgical therapy. Cooperation relies on a trustful relationship between physician and patient and requires active participation of the patient. Surgical procedures requiring long-term follow-up depend on a high degree of cooperation. Cooperation is the result of numerous psycho-social factors. The degree of potential cooperation influences to a large extent the decision process for indication and choice of method. The ability to cooperate does not depend on the patient only but it is result of a therapeutic alliance between patient and physician.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie, Chirurgische Universitätsklinik Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106 Freiburg.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Farthmann
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D013502:General Surgery; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012307:Risk Factors