How to Get the Most Out of Your Doctor’s Appointment
Going to the doctor can feel overwhelming, especially when appointments are short and there is a lot of information to remember. Whether you are going in for a yearly checkup, a new health concern, or a follow-up visit, preparing ahead of time can make it easier to communicate with your healthcare provider and understand what comes next.
Research on patient-provider communication suggests that helping patients prepare questions and actively participate in healthcare conversations can improve communication during appointments. Read the research on patient question prompts
Write Down Your Questions Beforehand
It is surprisingly easy to forget what you wanted to ask once you are sitting in the exam room. Before your appointment, make a short list of your biggest questions or concerns and put the most important ones first.
This isn't just a convenient trick. Research has studied question prompt lists, which are tools designed to help patients think of questions before an appointment. A 2023 randomized clinical trial found that patients who received a question prompt list asked more questions and recalled more medical information than patients who received usual care. View the 2023 randomized clinical trial on PubMed
A larger systematic review of 33 randomized trials also found that interventions encouraging patients to prepare questions before consultations produced a small increase in both question-asking and patient satisfaction. View the systematic review in BMJ/PubMed
Instead of simply writing:
“Headaches”
try writing:
“I have been getting headaches about three times a week for the past month. They usually start in the afternoon and last a few hours.”
Details such as when a symptom started, how often it occurs, what it feels like, and what seems to make it better or worse can help organize the conversation with your healthcare provider.
Bring an Updated Medication List
Before your appointment, make a list of the medications you currently take. Include prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements.
If possible, include:
The medication or supplement name
The dose
How often you take it
Why you take it
Keeping medication information accurate is an important part of preventing medication discrepancies. Medication reconciliation—the process of comparing and verifying medication lists—is widely used as a patient-safety strategy, particularly when patients move between different healthcare settings. Read the systematic review on medication reconciliation
You can keep your list on paper, in your phone's Notes app, or in your patient portal. The most important thing is keeping it updated.
Be Open About What Is Going On
Some health topics can feel uncomfortable to discuss, including mental health, sexual health, substance use, medications you stopped taking, or whether you have been able to follow a previous treatment plan.
However, your healthcare provider can only make decisions based on the information available to them.
You do not have to be embarrassed about asking questions or discussing something that feels personal. Healthcare appointments are an opportunity to share the information that may be relevant to your care.
Ask When You Don't Understand Something
Medical terminology can get confusing very quickly.
If your healthcare provider uses a term you do not understand or explains something too quickly, it is completely appropriate to ask them to explain it again.
You could ask:
“What does that mean?”
“Can you explain that in a different way?”
“What are my options?”
“What are the benefits and risks of each option?”
“What happens if I choose not to do this right now?”
“What should I watch for at home?”
Being involved in healthcare decisions is an important part of shared decision-making, in which healthcare professionals and patients work together when making decisions about care. A systematic review of shared decision-making models found that common elements include discussing treatment options, considering patient preferences, tailoring information to the patient, and making the decision together. Read the systematic review on shared decision-making
Take Notes During the Appointment
There can be a lot of information packed into one appointment, especially if your provider discusses medications, test results, referrals, or treatment options.
Consider writing down the most important pieces of information, including:
New medications
Tests you need
Referrals
Follow-up appointments
Changes to your treatment plan
Symptoms you should monitor
You can also ask whether your after-visit summary or instructions will be available through your patient portal.
The goal is not to write down every word your provider says. Focus on the information you will need once you get home.
Repeat the Plan Back in Your Own Words
Before leaving the appointment, try summarizing the plan back to your healthcare provider.
For example:
“Just to make sure I understand, I'm going to start this medication, have my blood work done this week, and then schedule a follow-up appointment in three months. Is that right?”
This is similar to a communication strategy known as the teach-back method. With teach-back, patients explain information or instructions in their own words so that misunderstandings can be identified and corrected.
A systematic review of teach-back found positive effects across many healthcare settings, including improvements in knowledge and recall, although results vary depending on the population and how teach-back is implemented. Read the systematic review on teach-back
Another systematic review examining how teach-back is used in healthcare consultations found that it is commonly used as a strategy for checking patient understanding and improving communication between patients and healthcare professionals. Read the Patient Education and Counseling review
Know What Happens Next
Before the appointment ends, make sure you know your next step.
Do you need to:
Pick up a prescription?
Schedule a follow-up?
Complete blood work?
Have an imaging test?
See a specialist?
Monitor a symptom at home?
Make a change to your current treatment plan?
You can also ask how you will receive your results and who you should contact if you have questions afterward.
Knowing the plan before you leave can prevent confusion later.
Remember: You Are Part of Your Healthcare Team
You do not need a medical background to participate in conversations about your own health.
Research on patient participation and shared decision-making continues to emphasize the importance of patients being actively involved in healthcare conversations and decisions. Read a systematic review on patient participation in healthcare decisions
Asking questions does not make you difficult. Asking for clarification does not mean you weren't listening. And you should never feel like you have to pretend you understand something when you don't.
A little preparation can help you walk into your appointment knowing what you want to discuss—and leave knowing what happens next.
Sources
Bomhof-Roordink, H., Gärtner, F. R., Stiggelbout, A. M., & Pieterse, A. H. (2019). Key components of shared decision making models: A systematic review. BMJ Open, 9(12), e031763. View article
Clayman, M. L., Bylund, C. L., Chewning, B., & Makoul, G. (2016). The impact of patient participation in health decisions within medical encounters: A systematic review. Medical Decision Making, 36(4). View article
Kinnersley, P., et al. (2008). Interventions before consultations to help patients address their information needs by encouraging question asking: Systematic review. BMJ, 337, a485. View article
Kwan, J. L., Lo, L., Sampson, M., & Shojania, K. G. (2013). Medication reconciliation during transitions of care as a patient safety strategy: A systematic review. Annals of Internal Medicine, 158(5), 397–403. View article
Sansoni, J. E., Grootemaat, P., & Duncan, C. (2015). Question Prompt Lists in health consultations: A review. Patient Education and Counseling. View article
Shersher, V., Haines, T. P., Sturgiss, L., Weller, C., & Williams, C. (2021). Definitions and use of the teach-back method in healthcare consultations with patients: A systematic review and thematic synthesis. Patient Education and Counseling, 104(1), 118–129. View article
Talevski, J., Wong Shee, A., Rasmussen, B., Kemp, G., & Beauchamp, A. (2020). Teach-back: A systematic review of implementation and impacts. PLOS ONE, 15(4), e0231350. View article
Ting, Y. Y., et al. (2023). Improving communication and patient information recall via a question prompt list: Randomized clinical trial. British Journal of Surgery. View article