6 Tips To Get The Most From Your Doctor’s Appointment
Medivizor: 803.2015 by Kathleen Hoffman
 |
| Ask Me 3 |
Most
people would say that going to the doctor is stressful. You’re there because
you don’t feel your best; you’re poked with needles and prodded with questions.
You’re worried about what the doctor will find and what she will tell you.
You’re concerned that you’ll forget to tell your doctor something important or
not remember what your doctor has told you at the appointment. And you may be
anxious that you won’t understand what she says.
You
are not alone. Forgetting to tell your doctor something important, or not remembering what your doctor has told you at an appointment, is
common.
There
are several reasons behind this common problem.
Health
Literacy
Health
literacy is a term used to describe an extremely complicated skill set that’s
needed to understand what is being said in the healthcare setting.
Conversational competence, that is, the ability to listen effectively,
articulate health concerns and explain symptoms accurately are part of health
literacy. Health literacy also encompasses decision-making and analytical
abilities like evaluation, analysis and interpretation. Even the ability to
locate information and assess its quality is part of the skill set. Finally,
mathematical calculations and judging risk are part of health literacy.
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6 Tips To
Give You Confidence
1)
List Writing
When
you are in a relaxed setting is the best time to sit down and come up with a
list of symptoms or questions for your doctor. A prepared list in hand
can give you a leg up in self-confidence and may get your concerns met
more effectively.
2)
Before the Appointment: Do A Little Research
You
are going into the land of “medicalese.” Even if your physician tries to speak
in plain language, it may not be clear to you. There are ways to increase your
understanding. Read and learn about your health condition. Talk to others with
similar conditions.
3)
At The Appointment: Don’t Fear Asking Questions
A
technique to use at the doctor’s office is called “Ask Me 3”. READ
MORE >>
Health
2015:
Health Literacy & Patient Engagement, 12th Annual Report, US
HHS Sep 2015
2011:
Health Literacy Interventions Outcomes: Updated Systematic Rvw, AHRQ
2010:
Health Literacy, NNLM
2010:
Health Literacy: Accurate Accessible Actionable Health Info. for All, CDC
2009:
Reaching America’s Health Potential Among Adults, RWJ Foundation
2009:
Low Health Literacy, NAAL
2003
2004:
Literacy and Health in America, ETS
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