A typical doctor's appointment lasts only a few minutes, and it is easy to forget the most important thing you meant to say. A little preparation helps you and your clinician make the most of the time.
Before you go
- Write down your main concern and, if you have several, put them in order of importance. Raise the most important first.
- Describe symptoms clearly: when they started, how often they happen, how long they last, what makes them better or worse and how they affect daily life.
- List your medicines, including over-the-counter remedies, vitamins and herbal supplements, with doses. Or bring them in a bag.
- Note allergies and any reactions to medicines.
- Know your family history of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer.
- Bring readings if you monitor anything at home, such as a blood pressure log.
Be open about your life
Doctors are not there to judge. Honest answers about smoking, alcohol, recreational drugs, sleep, stress and your work pattern change what they look for. A dealer on rotating night shifts at a casino, a nurse on twelve-hour nights or a long-haul driver faces different health risks from someone with a nine-to-five job; our guide to night shifts and health explains why. Exposure to tobacco smoke at work, long hours at a screen or frequent travel are also worth mentioning.
Questions worth asking
- What do you think is causing this?
- Do I need any tests, and what will they show?
- What are my treatment options, and what are the benefits and side effects of each?
- What can I do myself to help?
- What signs should make me come back sooner or seek urgent care?
- When and how will I get results, and what is the next step?
During and after
Take notes, or bring a trusted person to listen and help you remember. If you do not understand a term, ask; a good check is to repeat back in your own words what you think the plan is. Ask for written information or a reliable website. For video or phone appointments, find a quiet spot with good light and signal, and have your medicine list to hand.
If your problem is not improving as expected, it is fine to go back. Second opinions are a normal part of care.
Based on guidance from: NHS, US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
