TOPICS
Preparations | The
Art of Asking Questions
General Questions
| Treatment
Questions |
Side-Effect
Questions | Test
Questions
Teamwork Questions |
Related Resources
 We believe that you can help to improve the quality of your
care by preparing for consults and asking good questions.
The goal being to make it easy for your doctor to see the big
picture – your medical needs, expectations, and priorities, and
also to receive timely access to evidence-based medical care.
See also
our printable brochure
PDF
Preparations
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Bring a trusted friend or relative, or ask if you can
tape the consult. |
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Prepare:
(1) referral,
(2) authorization, (3) insurance cards, (4) emergency contacts,
(5) doctor & local pharmacy contacts, (6) pathology report &
slides, (7) concise written diagnosis, treatment and medical
history, (8) medications & supplements list, (9) radiology
reports & film, (10) allergy list, and your
(11) concise written list of
your questions.
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Big Picture Questions
prepared by PAL |
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THE ART of ASKING QUESTIONS
Honesty and diplomacy can help to build mutually respectful and
supportive relationships with the members of our health care team.
Ask: "Is this a good time to ask questions, doctor?"
Indicate that some of your lower-priority questions can be
answered later when time allows, by phone or email.
Be sure to also ask: "How are you doing, doctor?"
Provide a copy of your questions in writing – with space for answers –
so your doctor can answer all your questions when time allows.
Communicate honestly about side effects and symptoms (See
for checklist:
PDF).
Find ways to show your appreciation for the skills and
dedication of your health care team when it is evident.
Try not to overwhelm your doctor with a laundry list of
questions in any one consult.
List your most important questions first, and indicate which
are most important to you with a star.
Be sure to prepare a concise story of your diagnosis and
treatment to help your doctor to see the big picture.
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GENERAL QUESTIONS
A checklist to pick from. Provide your questions to your
doctor in writing - listing the questions of highest importance
first - and marking them as such.
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TREATMENT-RELATED QUESTIONS
A checklist to pick from. Provide your questions to your doctor
in writing - listing the questions of highest importance first - and
marking them as such.
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What is my diagnosis? And can you please provide me a copy
of the pathology report.
Can a second expert review of the sample be done to confirm the
diagnosis? |
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How widespread is the disease (the stage)?
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Do I have any unique risk factors that might influence how I
should be treated? |
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Does the disease require prompt treatment and why?
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Can the disease be cured? |
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What are the symptoms of the disease, and which indicate a
need for treatment? |
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What are my treatment choices? |
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Do you offer radioimmunotherapy as a treatment option?
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Are new treatments under study? Would a clinical trial be
appropriate for me? |
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Which treatment or treatment sequence do you recommend? Why?
NOTE: The rationale for a
treatment can be especially important to you when there are
multiple choices and there is no clear best approach.
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What is your level of confidence that the recommended
treatment is the best choice? |
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What is the goal of this treatment? (management versus
durable remission) |
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What are the chances that the treatment will be successful?
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Is the collection of stem cells indicated before or after
this treatment?
When is the best time to consider stem cell
harvesting, in general? |
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How long will the treatments last? |
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How long will it take for the treatment to begin working
against the disease?
EXAMPLES:
Antibiotic therapy for H-pylori
can take 12 months or more to show a result against MALT
lymphoma; and Rituxan therapy can take many months before an
optimal response is seen. |
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How easy is it to administer; will it disrupt my normal life
or ability to work? |
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How durable is the response likely to be?
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What signs will indicate that the therapy is beginning to
work or that it is not working? |
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What tests will be used to measure or gauge an early
response to treatment? |
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SIDE EFFECT QUESTIONS
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What side effects should I expect?
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What side effects should I report to you immediately?
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What side effects may I experience that are not
dangerous?
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Will there be side effects that may prevent me from using
other important treatments, or make it more difficult to
harvesting of stem cells in future?
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What signs or changes should I report immediately?
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What is the best way to contact you about side effects?
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How will I feel during therapy, and will it affect my
ability to do normal activities?
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Can I have sexual relations during this treatment?
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What can I do to minimize risks during therapy, such as risk
of infection?
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Will the treatment or withdrawal from treatment cause
depression?
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Will you prescribe medications to minimize side effects and
risks? Neupogen? Anti-nausea? Anti-depressive? …
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What foods, supplements, procedures, or medications should I
avoid during treatment?
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TEST QUESTIONS
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What tests will you order?
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What will the tests show or indicate?
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Can the test show false positive results? How often?
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Will you provide copies of the results?
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How often should I receive these tests?
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What toxicity and/or risks are associated with this test –
or the repeated long-term use of this test? Is there a safer
alternative?
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What changes or symptoms may indicate the need for tests?
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What test results indicate a need to initiate or change
treatment?
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When is a bone marrow biopsy indicated?
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What steps will you take to minimize the discomfort and
anxiety associated with the bone marrow test?
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TEAMWORK QUESTIONS
KevinMD: How well does your doctor
play with others?
http://bit.ly/SxTltL
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“Do you discuss cases with your
partners?” |
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“How do you cover each other on
the weekends?” |
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“How long have you been
together?” |
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“What do you, as a doctor, look
for in other doctors?” |
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“What is your culture of
collaboration?” |
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“Is there is a unifying
philosophy that the doctors in your practice share? What is it?”
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Teamwork
questions
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Speaking of Teamwork ...
Show your support for PAL by Giving Us a High 5!
(no more or less can be gifted to PAL with this PayPAL button.
See
also Other Ways to Help)
Related Resources
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Checklist for Doctor Visits & Resources
PAL
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Printable Treatment Appointment Diary
PAL |
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Preparing for Doctor Visits
PDF
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Is a clinical
trial
appropriate for me? PDF
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When to Consider Clinical trials,
based on your clinical circumstances
PDF
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Treatment History Diary
PDF
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