Questions to ask during your appointment

It’s okay to ask questions about your health. Here are some examples of questions you could ask.

What might be wrong

Don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t understand. You could say:

• Can I check that I’ve understood what you said?
• What you’re saying is?

Don’t feel embarrassed if you have to ask your health worker to explain something again. You might want to say:

• Can you explain it again – I still don’t understand?

It’s okay to ask your health worker to write down and explain any words you don’t understand. And it might be helpful to write things down or ask a family member or friend to take notes.

About any tests

If your health worker has recommended that you go for tests, you might want to ask:

• What are the tests for?
• What will the tests involve?
• How should I prepare myself for the tests?
• How and when will I find out the results of the tests?
• Who do I contact if I don’t get the results of the tests?

About any treatment

You might also have questions about what treatment, if any, is best for you. Examples of questions you could ask are:

• Are there any side effects/risks?
• How long will I need treatment for?
• How will I know if the treatment is working?
• How effective is this treatment?
• Are there other ways to treat my condition?
• Is there anything I can do to help myself?

What happens next

You might want to find out who to contact if you have further problems or questions, or if any support groups are available. You could ask:

• What happens next – do I come back and see you?
• Who do I contact if things get worse?
• Do you have any written information?
• Where can I go for more information, a support group or further help?

Page last edited: 01 December 2009