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How do you talk to your doctor? Does he or she do all the talking while you do all the listening? Are you afraid to ask questions? Do you leave the office feeling like you just sat through a foreign language class?
Your relationship with your doctor, including how well you talk with each other, affects your care. A good relationship — where you and your doctor share information and work together to make the best decisions about your health — will result in the best care. You'll also feel more confident in your doctor and the quality of care you're getting. Here are some ways to make talking to your doctor more effective:
Doctors are busy people and their offices are often abuzz with activity, like ringing telephones and crowded waiting rooms. When you actually see your doctor, your visit probably won't last more than 15 minutes. The best way to make the most of your limited time is to come to your appointment prepared:
Here are some questions to ask the doctor. You can add to the list as you come up with more questions:
Don't be put off by big words or a doctor's impatient manner. If you don't understand what the doctor is telling you, ask him or her to explain it again. Using different words, or drawing or showing you a picture can help. Don't leave the office without understanding everything the doctor told you.
If there are issues you want to discuss that the doctor doesn't mention, raise them yourself. Doctors often are so focused on making sick people better — or so rushed — they forget to talk about important health matters like diet and weight, exercise, stress, sleep, tobacco and alcohol use, sexual practices, vaccines, and tests to find diseases. Find out what tests you might need for your age, such as a mammogram or colonoscopy, and ask your doctor about getting them. Don't be embarrassed or ashamed to bring up sensitive topics.
Speaking up also means telling your doctor everything you know about your body and health, including all your symptoms and problems. The more information you share, the better the doctor will be able to figure out what's wrong and how to treat you. Don't make the doctor guess. Be sure to mention any and all medicines, vitamins, and herbs you are taking, and anyone else you are seeing about your health, physical and mental.
Sometimes, people like to bring a friend or family member to a doctor appointment for moral support. A companion also could help you relax, remind you of questions you forgot to ask, and help you remember what the doctor said. If you need personal time with the doctor, the person can sit in the waiting room. Having someone join you is especially helpful if you feel too ill to get around easily on your own.
If you feel nervous, rushed, or just plain overwhelmed, you might forget to ask a question, even if you wrote it down. If this happens, or if you think of a new question, call the office right away. Be patient but firm if you want to speak directly with the doctor, who might not be able to take your call at that moment. If the doctor wants you to come back for a follow up visit, be sure to set and keep the appointment.
Building a successful partnership with your doctor takes time and effort. It's not uncommon to have a frustrating doctor visit now and then. But overall, your relationship with your doctor should be positive and comfortable. You should have confidence and trust in his or her medical ability and judgment.
Let your doctor know when there's a problem. If you can't resolve things together, you might need to entrust your care to someone else.
AARP Resources
Stay Healthy--Practice Prevention
Regular preventive care can help you stay healthy and live
longer.
Preventing And Controlling Cancer
Getting regular screenings can help find cancer early, making
treatment easier and more likely to succeed.
How To Be Drug Smart
Ten questions to ask about a new prescription and other
information on how to be drug smart.
Additional Resources
Partnering
With Your Doctor
The Alzheimer's Association has a workshop and guide to teach
people with memory problems and their caregivers how to
communicate and work more effectively with their doctors.
Health Compass
This online "how to" program will help you better understand health information
and research on aging, including communicating more effectively with your doctor
and other health care providers.
Learning Medical
Terms
This short, online course teaches you the meanings of basic
medical terms, which can help you talk with your doctor
better.
Handbook For Mortals: Talking with your Doctor
Outlines different scenarios you might find yourself in at the
doctor's office and how to respond.