Drugs.com Blog

The Official Drugs.com Blog

How do I get my doctor to listen to me?

December 18, 2018 By Carmen Fookes

Doctors are busy, we all know that. But what happens when you go to a doctor about something that is bothering you but leave feeling like you haven’t been heard properly or the doctor has completely dismissed your concerns?

Surveys have shown that most people don’t have a problem with their doctor’s actual care, but nearly 80% have a problem with the way their doctor communicates.

But how do you get your doctor to really, really listen?

The key is going into your appointment with a story, rather than just a list of symptoms. Instead of saying my back hurts, tell the story of it. Explain how long ago it started, what you were doing when you first felt it and what it felt like, and how often you feel the pain. Jot down some notes before you go if you have trouble remembering what happened. But you need to be honest and accurate. Things like drug and alcohol use can impact on your health so it is important to always tell the truth.

If you still feel like you’re not being heard, speak up. Say politely, “I’m worried that we aren’t communicating well, and I feel that it is important for you to hear my whole story”. Consider taking a friend or family member to your appointment for support and as an extra ear to pick up information that you may miss or ask questions you may have forgotten about.

Nobody knows your body quite as you do, which is why effective communication between you and your doctor is vital if you want to receive the right diagnosis and avoid unnecessary tests.

For more information see our slideshow, Misdiagnosis: Righting the Wrong.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: communication, diagnosis, doctor, misdiagnosis

Recent Posts

  • Green Gold April 30, 2019
  • Worshipping The Wine (or Beer) God or Godess April 23, 2019
  • No Easy Fix To The Opioid Crisis January 15, 2019
  • 2018: The Year for Blockbusters. December 26, 2018
  • How do I get my doctor to listen to me? December 18, 2018

Categories

  • Business
  • Commentary
  • Media
  • Mobile
  • Patient Safety
  • Site Upgrades
  • Statistics
  • Uncategorized

Copyright © 2021 Drugs.com - Return to Drugs.com

We use cookies on our website to improve performance and enhance your user experience. We do not run any advertising or associated cookies on the Drugs.com Blog. Our servers are hosted in the USA. Under GDPR regulations, we are required to gain your consent in order to transfer information to our servers. By clicking I Agree, you accept our privacy policy, our use of cookies, and you give explicit consent for international data transfer.I agreeYour Privacy