Study title: Patient–physician language concordance and long-term mortality: a retrospective cohort study of Canadians (available in English only)
A Canadian study involving 50,000 people over a 15-year period shows that patients who receive health care in their mother tongue have a better chance of long-term survival. Dr. Michael Reaume, a nephrologist at Seven Oaks General Hospital in Winnipeg and the study’s lead researcher, notes that francophones living outside Quebec who received services in French had an 11% lower risk of death than those who received care in English.
These findings highlight the importance of the work done by Santé en français and its partners to identify people who wish to receive health services in French and facilitate their access to care in their language. The study shows that effective communication between patients and health care professionals can have a tangible impact on quality of care and health outcomes.
“Studies conducted in recent years have shown that when people receive care in their preferred language, there are fewer adverse events, fewer medical errors, and fewer emergency department visits or hospitalizations. However, until now, no study had shown that patient–physician language concordance was associated with better survival.” — Dr. Michael Reaume, postdoctoral researcher at the University of Manitoba and nephrologist at Seven Oaks General Hospital
1. July 20, 2026 – Receiving care in your mother tongue reduces mortality
Interview on: Radio-Canada’s “Panorama”
2. July 22, 2026 – Speaking the same language as your doctor may increase life expectancy
Interview on: Radio-Canada’s “Y a pas deux matins pareils”
3. July 25, 2026 – Better understanding, better survival
Interview on Radio-Canada’s “Votre Samedi”
