How to Talk with Your Doctor
We all have to visit our doctor's office at some point in our life. Nobody likes it – in fact, I don't know anyone who enjoys to see a doctor at all. It's just something we have to do, especially as we are getting older.
Research shows that patients who have a good relationship with their doctor receive better care and are happier with the care they receive.
So your health is not just in your doctor's hands but in your own as well. Here are some tips on how to improve your relationship with your doctor and get the best health care possible from your doctor.
Prepare for your visit:
- Make a list of concerns
- Take information with you
- Make sure you can see and hear as well as possible
- Consider bringing a family member or friend
- Find an interpreter if you know you’ll need one
- Plan to update the doctor on what has happened since your last visit
- Ask every time you don't understand something.
- If you have questions before the appointment, write them down and ask them during the exam. Be sure to list the most important questions first to make sure they get answered.
- Tell your doctor if you need more time to talk about something.
For in-depth information, check out some books from the Toronto Public Library on your topic:
More information on patient-doctor relationship:
- MedlinePlus: Talking With Your Doctor
- National Institute on Aging (US): Talking With Your Doctor: A Guide for Older People
- College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario: Complaints
- Government of Canada: Patient's Bill of Rights
2 thoughts on “How to Talk with Your Doctor”
It also helps if you talk to your doctor as you would a friend: converse, joke around… be as natural a speaker as you can. Cast aside for a moment your conventional ideas of what a doctor is or what he can do to you. This helps you feel more comfortable, and ease your nerves.
I too agree that doctors treat you in better way if your have good relation with them.
The tips shared in this post are worth using.