What questions do patients forget to ask their doctors?
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What questions do patients forget to ask their doctors?
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It's said that patients only retain 10% of the information provided to them during a consultation. This article suggests that patients don't ask the right questions when they come i
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Forums » Open clinical » General clinical » What questions do patients forget to ask their doctors?
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What questions do patients forget to ask their doctors?
posted at 9/7/2012 10:59 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1216
First: 19/4/2010 Last: 19/6/2013 |
It's said that patients only retain 10% of the information provided to them during a consultation. This article suggests that patients don't ask the right questions when they come in to see us in out patient departments. The author suggests 8 questions the patient should ask every time they see one of us. it might serve as a useful tool to remind us what information we should be volunteering every time we see a patient. What questions do you think is most important for patients to ask, or if you are a patient yourself, what do you always make sure you ask of your doctor? |
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Re: What questions do patients forget to ask their doctors?
posted at 9/7/2012 11:24 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 627
First: 13/4/2011 Last: 18/6/2013 |
Hello Dundee: This is an excellent article! My suggestion is that, as clinicians, we can also remind our patients about some of these questions during their appointments with us. But when I go to see my doctor, I ask much more questions than are in the article....I think that every physician is a bit paranoid about some diseases, if not most. All Best, Joey |
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Re: What questions do patients forget to ask their doctors?
posted at 9/7/2012 11:51 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2139
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 19/6/2013 |
What is the operation I am going to have? If they always asked this question of their surgeon, then the anesthetist's pre-op. assessement visit could be routinely shorter, and their allegedly informed consent rather more valid. But maybe I am being cruel, to surgeons. As said above, patients retain so little that they are told. My Trust has a policy, as do many, of sending the patient a copy of the surgeon's letter to thier GP. It promots clarity, inhibits jargon, may inform the patient better and should give them confidence that nothing is being hidden from them. John |
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Re: What questions do patients forget to ask their doctors?
posted at 10/7/2012 1:35 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1216
First: 19/4/2010 Last: 19/6/2013 |
The question I'd like patients to ask in the outpatient department is "How much better am I likely to get?" Managing patients' expectations is very important, particularly in respiratory medicine, where the aim is usually to stop things getting worse, rather than improvement per se. I see patient in bronchiectasis clinic all the time who have the main complaint of "The sputum won't go away". It never will, but no-one has told them that.
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Re: What questions do patients forget to ask their doctors?
posted at 11/7/2012 1:38 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 627
First: 13/4/2011 Last: 18/6/2013 |
In my case the question I would like most hearing from my patients would be: How much weight should I get to loose, and what should I do for that doctor? Another question I would feel happy listening: Why should I take this drug, if I don´t feel anything wrong with me. Are my laboratory or BP numbers that bad? Joey |
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Re: What questions do patients forget to ask their doctors?
posted at 11/7/2012 3:43 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 461
First: 29/4/2011 Last: 31/5/2013 |
I trained at the Joslin Clinic and all patient consultations were sent to the patients as well as their refering physician. in 2001 we published a paper in which we provided the physicians and their patients with summaries of their status using stop light symbols for each parameter (red=poor, yellow=intermediate and green=at goal) that we followed: A1C, lipids, blood pressure, etc. At the follow up visits rather than the physicians' having to explain to the patient their goals and current status; both the patient and the physician started the visits on the same page. The question became how to achieve goals rather than what goals to achieve. Not only did the patients improve, but also both patient and physician satisfaction went through the roof! Clark CM, Snyder JW, Meek RL, Stutz LM, Parkin CG. A systematic approach to risk stratification and intervention within a managed care environment improves diabetes outcomes and patient satisfaction. Diabetes Care, 24:1079-1086, June, 2001 |
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Re: What questions do patients forget to ask their doctors?
posted at 11/7/2012 5:46 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1216
First: 19/4/2010 Last: 19/6/2013 |
I like this idea. I could separate out the causes of breathlessness, and give traffic lights: Smoking - Red Morbid obesity - Red Compliance with medication - Red Hmmm.. |
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Re: What questions do patients forget to ask their doctors?
posted at 13/7/2012 3:58 PM BST
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 696
First: 17/11/2008 Last: 19/6/2013 |
When should I start to feel better? What should make me think I need to see a doctor again? What can I do to help myself? Is there anything I can read about this? What would happen if I didn't have any treatment? What should I be asking you that I haven't asked already? |
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