What are the most important questions to ask your doctor to make sure you get the most out of your consultation, and consequently receive the most appropriate treatment?
Consultations with your doctor can be rushed and stressful, and it is common for patients to forget to ask key questions during the actual consultation itself. How can you make sure that you remember to ask the questions that are of most concern to you?
As a practicing physician, here are my suggestions:
1. Do as much research as possible before you see your doctor – let’s face it you don't go and see your accountant to do your taxes without collecting information beforehand, and thinking about the issues you want to discuss. Do the same with your doctor. The Internet is the easiest source of information to use, and the US Government Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has an excellent site where you will find a comprehensive series of questions on many different health topics.
2. Write down your questions - and if necessary take a list with you, including a second copy for your doctor.
3. Prioritize your questions - ask the most important ones first - don't waste time asking about the payment process when you are really worried about whether you have cancer or diabetes.
4. Take someone with you if you have questions that are really concerning you - two sets of ears are better than one - and make sure you have discussed your needs with your friend or family member before the consultation so that they can help you get answers if necessary.
5 Write down the answers - even if this is just a rapid note. Research has shown that only 20% of the information given during a medical consultation is remembered one week later - but if it's written down, the percentage recall is much higher
Asking good questions is essential in any medical consultation, and it is incumbent on patients to take responsibility for their health and find out as much as possible of relevance so that they can make good decisions in partnership with their doctors.
This article is based on excerpts from the recently published book “Your Health in the Information Age – how you and your doctor can use the Internet to work together” by Peter Yellowlees MD. Available at http://www.InformationAgeHealth.com and most online bookstores.What are the most important questions to ask your doctor to make sure you get the most out of your consultation, and consequently receive the most appropriate treatment?
Consultations with your doctor can be rushed and stressful, and it is common for patients to forget to ask key questions during the actual consultation itself. How can you make sure that you remember to ask the questions that are of most concern to you?
As a practicing physician, here are my suggestions:
1. Do as much research as possible before you see your doctor – let’s face it you don't go and see your accountant to do your taxes without collecting information beforehand, and thinking about the issues you want to discuss. Do the same with your doctor. The Internet is the easiest source of information to use, and the US Government Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has an excellent site where you will find a comprehensive series of questions on many different health topics.
2. Write down your questions - and if necessary take a list with you, including a second copy for your doctor.
3. Prioritize your questions - ask the most important ones first - don't waste time asking about the payment process when you are really worried about whether you have cancer or diabetes.
4. Take someone with you if you have questions that are really concerning you - two sets of ears are better than one - and make sure you have discussed your needs with your friend or family member before the consultation so that they can help you get answers if necessary.
5 Write down the answers - even if this is just a rapid note. Research has shown that only 20% of the information given during a medical consultation is remembered one week later - but if it's written down, the percentage recall is much higher
Asking good questions is essential in any medical consultation, and it is incumbent on patients to take responsibility for their health and find out as much as possible of relevance so that they can make good decisions in partnership with their doctors.
This article is based on excerpts from the recently published book “Your Health in the Information Age – how you and your doctor can use the Internet to work together” by Peter Yellowlees MD. Available at http://www.InformationAgeHealth.com and most online bookstores.
Great points for the patients!
ReplyDeleteBut we as providers must also prompt and train our patients to follow these rules.
In my practice, when each patient is put in the consultation room, they are given a clip board, a blank sheet of paper, and a pen. During the minutes they are waiting for me to enter the room, they have the opportunity to write down the most pressing questions that they have concerning their medical consultation.
This should not replace the suggestions you have mentioned above, but, it could be complementary.
Jonathan S. Ware, MD