Tips for Improving Communication with Your Doctor

(ARA) - The relationship between a physician and a patient is an important one, especially if a complex diagnosis is involved. But sometimes there are barriers on both ends that can cause confusion and frustration.

"The cornerstone of medicine is the relationship that patients have with their providers," comments Dr. Edward Creagan, a Mayo Clinic oncologist with over 30 years of experience, and a medical editor of MayoClinic.com. "Striving to create a positive, mutually-beneficial relationship helps ensure the best possible treatment."

Dr. Creagan offers these tips to help improve communication with your doctor:

1) Do some research online.
"An informed patient is in a far better position to maximize the expertise of the medical professional," says Dr. Creagan, who has noticed that people go online more often to research a specific diagnosis for themselves or their family rather than broader health subjects. He notes that it's important to be critical of medical Web sites to ensure the information is accurate and based on medical evidence. He advises:
* Avoid sites that are obviously sponsoring a product or service, or where there is a blurry line between editorial and advertising content.
* Information should be presented in a clear and concise manner and should be factual and verifiable.
* Make sure the site focuses on the patient side of health, rather than sites intended for medical professionals.
* Be skeptical -- if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
* Avoid blogs that lack credentials -- blog authors should always have professional credentials or be backed by a professional organization.
* Consider the source of the information -- is the organization known for expertise in healthcare treatment or research? Sites sponsored by medical organizations are often good options, as are nonprofit and government sites.

Dr. Creagan suggests MayoClinic.com as a great place to start your research because it is accurate, evidence-based, and the information is vetted by medical professionals at Mayo Clinic. He comments, "The site is very easy to navigate and is clearly written with the needs of the patients and family in mind."

2) Be prepared and bring questions.
After doing research, write down or print out any information you would like to discuss with your doctor. Bringing a list of questions that you've prepared ahead of time will help ensure you don't forget to ask about something important. Physicians encourage questions, so don't feel anything is too insignificant to bring up. If your physician doesn't encourage questions, it might be wise to find a new physician.

If you've been diagnosed with a serious disease, you might find a lot of frightening data and statistics online, but Dr. Creagan advises not to get upset too quickly. Be sure to discuss any findings with your doctor to ensure you are interpreting them correctly, and also consider the credibility of the source of the information.

"For example, patients need to understand that survival data they might find online is for a large range of the population and they might be in only a small percent of the larger group," says Dr. Creagan. "It's important to get the doctors involved to understand any subtleties."

3) Understand and remember treatment instructions.
Information a doctor provides can be complex and is often presented very quickly. As a patient it is important to retain and understand what they say. Ask if they can provide the instructions in writing and go over them with you before you leave. If not, then write down the information so that you can reference it in the future.

If the information or instructions the physician gives are complex or unclear, repeat them back in your own words so you know you understand them correctly. This will help minimize the risk of misunderstanding.

You can also bring a friend or family member with you to your appointment. This person can help listen and ask additional questions that might assist in your treatment, or jot down a few notes while you are talking with your doctor. Additionally, this person can serve as support during difficult times.

Do not change your treatment plan based on information you find online without first talking with your doctor and asking if that's a good idea for your individual situation.

4) Don't settle for anything less than mutual respect.
A good doctor will understand a patient's health issues and unique needs throughout their ongoing medical relationship. It is also important for the patient to respect the doctor and the demands they have as well. Both patient and doctor should practice active speaking and listening so that the communication remains open and honest. Remember, your doctor is there is help you and answer any questions you might have, but a good patient will also respect their time, opinions, and advice.

By following these suggestions, you'll be in a better position to maximize the outcome of your doctor appointments. To get started, visit www.MayoClinic.com to research health information to bring to your next appointment. Good communication between a doctor and patient is a key tool for successful medical treatment.

Courtesy of ARAcontent