How to Get the Best From Your Doctor
How to Ask Your Physician Questions on Your Condition or Worries
Nov 20, 2008
Show the doctor respect even when he don't seem particularly interested in you. This impersonal approach is a way of coping in a life-and-death profession.
Be Realistic
The media can give the impression that all known ills can be cured; the truth is that medicine will always be a bit of a hit-and-miss affair. Doctors and scientists don't know exactly how the body works, and everybody is different anyway. Don't expect instant solutions.
Be Honest
It's embarrassing to talk about problems with a complete stranger – it is natural to feel ignorant, scared and not in control. Be honest about feelings and about symptoms; don't trivialise them or worry about wasting the doctor's time.
Ask about the biggest worry first; don’t mention the most important symptom when backing out of the door.
Ensure the doctor clearly explains everything and ask for clarification.
Be Professional and Assertive
The doctor makes notes so why shouldn't the patient? Beforehand, prepare answers to the frequently asked questions like “How are you?” "Where and when does it hurt?" Be as precise as possible.
List the questions that need asking and make time to ask them.
Ask for clarification of tests and their results. Ask for more detail on recommendations such as diet and exercise modifications.
Keep symptom and responses to treatment in a diary and take it to the consultation and when a question is asked the answer will be authoritative.
Be a CAD
Some professionals have the opinion that patients are cads but some patients are not caddish enough. Now the really good patient is a CAD through and through. So be a CAD then take note of this: Come prepared, Ask questions and Discuss problems.
Get Information
When first diagnosed some people want to know everything about their problem, others want to know nothing. Neither is right or wrong, it’s a personal choice.
However, eventually most people want more information. It is reasonable to quiz the doctor about health problems and fears.
Talk
Talk to people at the doctor’s office and as doctor may be too busy for an in-depth chat then nurses are usually available. Pharmacists can help with information on medications.
Learn About the Illness
Books are the best way to build up a picture of any disease as they can be read at leisure and returned to frequently. Make sure the book is aimed at patients rather than at doctors, and check that the author can write well - many professionals can’t and for this reason it might be better to choose books by health journalists.
Check the publication date and the dates of the research quoted: general books won't date too much, but if a book offers more detail on a particular subject make sure that it is as up-to-date as possible.
Read newspapers and magazines critically as they tend to look at extremes so health stories are often about crises, rare or unusual medical experiences or of research breakthroughs that may take many years to gain official approval.
Specialist Organisations
Discover charities and support groups dealing with particular health problems; they provide specialist information and the chance to contact experts and other people who have experienced the disease.
Internet
Use the Internet with care – the trouble with a posting to the Internet is that you don't know if it's by a qualified expert or the guy down the road. Visit sites that you can trust such as those recommended by health professionals or hosted by respected organisations.
Questioning is a two way process from health provider and patient and vice versa. So don't be afraid to ask; it's your body.
