Making the Most of a Visit to the Doctor

For many patients, a visit to the primary care physician tends to be a one-sided conversation. Patients begin by stating one medical problem, and immediately the doctor takes over. It doesn't have to be that way, said Richard Frankel, professor of medicine and geriatrics at the IU School of Medicine and a senior research scientist at the Regenstrief Institute, Inc.

Frankel has studied patient-physician communication and ways to improve it. He said research shows that patients who take a more active role in their own care have better medical outcomes, including improved blood pressure readings in hypertensives, resolution of chronic headaches and lower blood sugar values in diabetics.

"Ask questions, and don't be afraid to ask," Frankel said. "Doctors are trained to question their patients. But questions are pretty rare from patients, so they need practice in asking them."

Frankel offers the following suggestions for patients:

Make a list.

Patients can write down their questions before going to see the doctor so they will have something to prompt their memory.

Practice

Frankel suggested practicing questions with a friend or family member to figure out the best way to ask them. This saves valuable time at the doctor's office, and it may make a busy doctor more inclined to listen than if the patient seems to be tongue-tied.

Stray from the list

At some point during the visit to the doctor, the patient probably will need to improvise. A common example is when the doctor's instructions are not clear. Frankel's advice is the same: ask questions.

Ask how to interact

If it is the patient's first visit to a particular physician, it can be very helpful to ask, "How do you work with your patients?" "In the long run it will be a tremendous time-saver," Frankel said. "Many doctors will offer a free first visit for this reason."

Give feedback

One of the great gifts patients can give their doctors is to help them improve their communication skills by giving them feedback, Frankel said. "Tell the doctor, 'It really bothered me that I couldn't get a word in edgewise,' for example," he said. The common practice if patients have a bad experience is to say nothing about it, because people don't want to be rude or insulting. But then doctors have no way of knowing that they need to improve their communication skills.

Supplements

If patients are taking nutritional supplements or alternative medical treatments, they need to mention these because the doctor is not likely to ask about them.

"In addition to listing current prescription medications during a first visit, the patient needs to raise these other topics along with any questions he or she may have. It may feel awkward and difficult, but it is critically important to avoid harmful drug interactions that could occur if the doctor is unaware of all the medications that are being taken," Frankel said. "In return, the doctor should be respectful about nutritional supplements -- not say, 'You're taking what?!'"

Source: This tip sheet is based on Indiana University faculty research, teaching and service. "Living Well Through Healthy Lifestyles" is the guiding philosophy of IU Bloomington's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. In keeping with that philosophy, this tip sheet offers information related to both physical and mental well-being.