Here are the selected Questions to Ask Your Doctors in order to understand your health better
You have the right to ask doctors questions concerning your health and treatments. When a doctor needs information from you, he goes ahead to question you to the best of his satisfaction so that he can make informed decisions on treatments and procedures for you.
This same rule applies to you as a patient as well.
Overview of the Questions to Ask Your Doctors
Getting the best healthcare means patients should also be willing to ask questions about their treatments, medicines, and whatnot from the health professionals overseeing their treatments.
When you ask questions, you will be informed on what next to expect in terms of treatments.
You also want to ask questions, so you are safe when treatments are being given. The best thing to do as a patient is to ensure you and the health professionals handling your treatments are on the same page, and that means asking questions.
You can print these questions or probably write them down in your diary, so you don’t forget to cover any of them. You can also go ahead to pen down the names of the drugs you are on if they are complex and many to remember offhand.
Different Questions to Ask Your Doctors
There are unlimited questions patients can ask doctors and these questions depend on the treatment they are to undergo or are currently receiving. Below are some of these questions patients can ask their doctors:
Questions related to health status
Here are some of the questions you can ask your doctor concerning the present conditions of your health:
- What is the name of the disease? Or is there any other name (s) for this condition?
- Could you assist in writing the name down?
- What could have caused it?
- Is it a contagious disease that can be passed to anyone?
- Is the disease a serious one?
- What are the chances? Is it going to subside or get worse as time goes on?
- Does it require treatment (s), and what are the treatments?
- Do I need to see a specialist on this? or what exactly should I do?
- Is there any activity I should engage in to stand a chance against this condition?
- How long does it take to leave?
- Are there available support groups I can join with regards to this condition?
Questions with regards to tests
There are a ton of tests conducted at any hospital. Tests include urine tests, blood tests, x-rays, scans and many others. Tests such as pap tests for women are beneficial and straightforward tests to go for. But there are tests that connote otherwise, such as mammograms, which are usually done to screen for possible lumps in women’s breasts.
You should know the difference between the tests you are to undergo so you know the likely results you will be expecting.
These questions below will help in that regard:
- What are the tests for?
- How are they going to be conducted?
- Do I still need to have these tests after this time?
- Are there benefits of having this or not?
- Are there alternative tests to these?
- Are the results that accurate or not?
- Can these results tell if there are underlying conditions?
- What does a positive result mean?
- What does a negative result mean?
- Do I need to do something in preparation before the test?
- What is the cost of the tests? Are there extra fees to be paid?
- How soon do I need the tests?
- How soon do I need the tests conducted?
- How do I get the result, and when will it be available?
Questions related to treatments
You should always note that treatments do not revolve around medicines alone; it also involves diets to stick to and the ones you should ditch to ensure proper recovery.
Here are some of the questions you should ask your doctor concerning treatments of the condition:
- What is the treatment called?
- How effective is it on a scale of 10?
- What is the evidence for this treatment?
- Does this treatment have side effects? If so, what are they?
- Are there available alternative ways to treat this condition? If so, please elaborate on them?
- How long will this treatment take before completed?
- Is it compulsory to this treatment?
- Are there safer alternatives to this treatment? If so, what are they?
- What will happen if I don’t go for this treatment?
- What is the cost of this treatment?
- How quickly do I have to commence the treatment?
- Does this treatment cater for by medicare or by private health insurance or what?
Questions concerning medicines
You need to keep a medicines list where the details of the drugs are written, the strength of the drugs, and when to take the drugs. Here are some of the questions you should ask your doctor with regards to the medicines you are given:
- Why is this medicine needed?
- Is there evidence for this medicine to be used?
- For how long am I to use this medicine?
- Are there side effects to this medicine? If so, what are they?
- What should I do if I experience these side effects?
- What would happen if I decided not to take this medicine? Would my health get worse?
- Are there alternative medicines that do not have side effects or have lesser side effects?
- How and when should I take this medicine? Should I use it with food or drink?
- Will this medicine interact with other medications I take like herbal solutions, vitamins and others?
- Does the medicine need to be in the refrigerator?
- If I don’t see the actual one at a pharmacy, can I use the alternatives recommended?
- Is there anything to do if I miss my regular dose?
- Can this medicine be taken if I am pregnant?
- How much does it cost to get this medicine, and is there any possible coverage for it?
Closing Thoughts on Questions to Ask Your Doctors
We are all used to answering questions from the doctors but fail to ask important questions related to our health from these medical professionals.
Asking questions from a doctor whenever you are ill is one of the best things you can ever do for your wellbeing because it makes you well-informed about what’s going on with you, what you need to do, and how to do it.
Recommendations
Best Medical Apps for Doctors UK
2 comments