Essential checklist of questions to ask your GP
Visiting your GP or taking your older relative to see their GP can be an anxious time and it’s easy to forget the questions you’d like to ask. Afterwards, you wish you had asked for more information. So here’s a handy checklist to take with you, so you don’t forget in the heat of the moment.
Important tips to remember when talking to your GP
- If you don’t understand what the doctor is saying, do not be afraid to ask more questions and ask the GP to explain further until you do understand
- Take notes, or take a friend or relative with you to take notes or listen with you
- Ask your doctor to write down instructions regarding tests, hospital visits and medication
- Ask your doctor for leaflets and trustworthy internet links about your condition.
- You can also talk to the nurses and pharmacists
These are the questions you should be asking
What is wrong with me?
Having provided the doctor with your symptoms, he will hopefully come to a conclusion about what is ailing you, but you should ensure that you ask:
- What is my diagnosis? What is it called?
- What may have caused it?
- How can it be treated?
- What further symptoms should I be looking for?
- When should I expect to feel better or see improvement?
- Should I make any lifestyle changes?
Details about the specific treatment
- What is the best treatment?
- When will it start and how long will it last?
- How successful is it?
- Will any prescribed treatment have any risks and/or side effects?
- Will any prescribed treatment interact adversely with other medication I am taking?
- What are the risks and side effects associated with this treatment?
- Are there foods activities to be avoided on this treatment?
- How often should I take the medication and at what time of day?
- Should I take it with food?
- What happens if I miss a dose?
- Are alternative treatments available?
If you have to have tests, ask for details
- What kinds of tests are they and what will happen during the tests?
- What results are the tests expected to show?
- When will I receive the results?
- How will I receive the results?
- Do I have to do anything specific prior to having the tests?
- Are there any side effects or risks?
- Is it likely that I will need more tests later?
