How to make the most out of your medical appointment
 How often have you come out of your GP’s office and by the time you get home you’ve forgotten a lot of what was said? Dr Sue Reddish, medical director, and Sarah Hardy, manager of education and training, have put together the following handy hints to help you make the most out of your medical appointment.
Sarah advises…
Be prepared
A visit to your GP can be a better experience if you plan ahead. When you book an appointment, tell the receptionist if you have several issues to discuss, as you may need a longer appointment. Tell them if the matter is urgent so you can be seen promptly. Be clear about what you want out of the appointment and stick to the key issues.
Allow plenty of time
You can call ahead to see if your GP is on time, but be aware that urgent matters can suddenly crop up with very short, or no, notice. Allow time for unexpected delays so that you are not stressed, rushed and anxious during your consultation.
At a glance
The keys to a good doctor-patient relationship are mutual respect, clear communication and shared responsibility.
Be clear about your needs when you make your appointment.
Call ahead to see if your doctor is running on time, but allow additional time for unexpected delays.
Take a written list of your medications, past operations and recent tests.
Be honest. Tell your doctor if you’re using complementary therapies. Also be honest about your lifestyle as it may impact on your health.
Use reliable websites, but don’t believe everything you read on the internet.
Never accept online or written (for example in magazines) medical advice from anyone who says they can diagnose and treat without actually seeing their patients.
Ask questions relevant to your visit and make another appointment for anything else. Don’t take a list of multiple separate problems and expect them all to be addressed in the one visit.
Make sure you provide your doctor with all the information they need – even the minor things can provide vital clues to your health. |
Bring relevant information
Things to take with you include a list of questions and any documentation that may provide clues to your state of health. Some people like to take notes or internet printouts, which is acceptable as long as you don’t expect your doctor to read them immediately and offer an on-the-spot opinion. The internet can be a good source of information but it is not a tool for self-diagnosis.
Take notes
Or an extra pair of ears. You might like to bring a notepad and pen to write down key points. In some cases being accompanied by a trusted friend or family member can be helpful, especially if you’re discussing important health issues or receiving news about test results.
Ask questions
Be realistic about how many questions your GP will be able to answer in a single consultation. Ask your questions in order of priority and if you need further clarification ask again or make another appointment. At the top of your list should be questions relating to tests, medical or surgical procedures, medications and long-term effects of your condition. Things to be truthful about include smoking, drinking, drugs, nutrition and physical activity.
Sue advises…
What your GP needs from you
Playing an active role in your own health care starts with the simple things – like making sure your GP has all the information they may need to assess your health.
Research your family history
It’s particularly helpful to know the medical history of your parents and siblings. Many of the more serious medical conditions come with strong genetic factors. It’s important to know not only if a close relative has had cancer, but what type of cancer as well. For example, cancer of the breast, bowel and ovary may be genetically based.
Note your own medical history
Your personal history is important too, and you can’t always remember dates and specifics, so it’s a good idea to list operations, allergies and especially when you had your last screening procedure, like a Pap smear or mammogram, bone density or blood tests.
List all medication
It’s not enough to know that you’re on blood-pressure medication; your doctor will need a name and dose, as these may cause your symptoms or may interact with other forms of treatment. You should also mention if you’re using complementary therapies, such as herbal medicine. Don’t assume that it’s harmless or unimportant just because it’s ‘natural’– many herbs interact with conventional therapies and come with risk factors.
Provide information about other health care professionals
Ask for a report to be sent to your GP, or provided to you, containing a summary of the consultation, problem and investigations sought, as it’s always helpful to have information from other doctors and health professionals, such as physiotherapists, breast clinics or women’s health clinics. This ensures that your health care management is based on you as a whole, and not as separate issues.
Jean Hailes research trials
 What’s new? Professor Helena Teede is overseeing some fascinating studies into healthier lifestyles and midlife wellbeing.
Projects on healthy lifestyle and prevention of disease
Exercise in overweight women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome
The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health in conjunction with Monash University is undertaking an important study into the effects of supervised moderate intensity exercise on health and body weight in overweight young women, both with and without PCOS. This study is now recruiting women aged 18 to 40 years who are overweight. For more information please call the Jean Hailes Research Group on 03 9594 7545.
Healthy lifestyle project
This study, being completed by the Foundation, focuses on the prevention of weight gain in young Australian women (mothers of primary-school-aged children) through provision of education and skills in healthy behaviour change. The study, currently underway, is being conducted in Melbourne and involves 10 schools. It is approved by the Education Department and is funded by the Buckland Foundation and VicHealth.
Health-related behaviours and risk of diabetes and heart disease in the Australian-dwelling Sri-Lankan and Indian populations
This study, currently underway, is being completed by the Foundation in collaboration with the Southern Health Diabetes Unit and the Monash Institute of Health Services Research. It involves documenting the severity of heart disease in these cultural groups, characterising the health-related behaviours and lifestyle factors that contribute to heart disease, uncovering the existing risk factors and monitoring how heart disease progresses over time in these populations. Ultimately it will involve the development and implementation of an education program aiming to raise awareness of heart disease and to improve lifestyle, and prevent or delay heart disease in these high-risk groups.
Trials on midlife and beyond...
Hot flushes, night sweats
The Foundation is conducting a clinical trial of a new non-hormonal therapy for hot flushes. If you are aged 40 to 70, with no menstrual bleeding for at least six months, and if you are also experiencing frequent and severe night sweats or hot flushes, you may qualify for this study.
This study is now recruiting. For more information please call the Jean Hailes Research Group on 03 9594 7545.
Overactive bladder study
It is estimated that 12 per cent of women aged 45 to 64 live with overactive bladders and incontinence. It’s time something was done to help these women. The Foundation has joined an international study team to tackle the issue head on. They are currently investigating a new medication to reduce the frequency of urination in volunteers aged 40 to 74 who have an overactive bladder. Results from this trial are expected in the next 12 months.
Herbal therapies at menopause
The Foundation, in collaboration with RMIT, has just completed a large comprehensive trial on herbal therapies: St Johns Wort + Vitex versus placebo (dummy) tablets in the treatment of hot flushes in menopausal women. Information from the study is due soon.
Resources
For further information on any of the above topics please log on to www.jeanhailes.org.au or call tollfree on 1800 151 441.
This resource was developed with the support of the Australian Department of Health and Ageing.
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The Jean Hailes Foundation magazine is designed to be informative and educational. It is not intended that The Jean Hailes Foundation magazine provide specific medical advice or replace advice from your health professional. The Jean Hailes Foundation does not accept any liability to any person for the information or advice (or the use of information or advice) which is provided in this magazine or incorporated into it by reference. Information is provided on the basis that all persons reading the magazine undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content.
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Note: This article is an archive. Whilst the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health has made every effort to ensure this information was accurate at the time of publication, the article content has not been updated since the date listed below.
Content created May 18, 2006
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