How to prepare for your visit to the doctor

Many doctors go to great lengths to establish a relationship of trust with their patients and to provide them with the best care possible. Communicating – talking to each other – plays an important role in this. 

However, patients may sometime leave the practice feeling dissatisfied because they still have many questions, were unable to fully address a matter of great concern or are not entirely sure what to do with their diagnosis. They may also have doubts about the proposed treatment and lack the confidence to give voice to these. 

By preparing for your appointment, you can ensure that you are satisfied with its outcome. The more you provide your doctor with precise details of your symptoms and the more questions you ask, the better they will be able to understand your illness and propose treatment options. 

It is normal to feel stressed about a visit to your doctor. After all, most people visit their doctor about a problem that’s really bothering them. As a result, it can sometimes be difficult to find the right words and to remember to ask all the important questions – especially when you often have only a short window of time in which to give voice to your concerns.

In this situation, it helps to be clear in advance about what you personally want to gain from the appointment. Do you want acute symptoms to be treated or do you want to discuss a long-standing health issue? Do you have a decision to make or is this a regular check-up? Make note of the reason for your visit so that you don’t have to spend a long time thinking about this when you’re with your doctor.

Current health status

It is important for your doctor to know as much as possible about the overall state of your health. You should therefore make a list of all illnesses or conditions you have at present, for example, allergies, asthma or mental health issues. 

It may also be useful to write down a list of your symptoms in advance – the more precise the better. For example, where are you experiencing symptoms and when did they start, what do they feel like, when are they particularly difficult? When the doctor asks you about your symptoms, you will then be able to describe them in detail.

Current medication 

Make a list of all medication you are taking – including the exact dose. Take note of all medication that was prescribed for you by a doctor. But also include on your list all medicinal products or dietary supplements that you have purchased without a prescription in a pharmacy or drugstore and take regularly or occasionally. If you have a medication treatment plan, bring it with you. 

Important documents 

If you get all required documents together the day before, you won’t need to search for them right before your appointment. Remember to bring your health insurance card (electronic medical data card) and – if necessary – a referral letter, as well as your own notes and all diagnostic findings you already have in relation to your health concern. You should also bring your certificate of vaccination, as your vaccination status may occasionally be checked.

Given that your time with the doctor is often limited, it is useful to address your main concerns first. If you feel that you don’t have enough time left to ask your questions, make it clear to the doctor that you still have some outstanding questions and would like to discuss these following the examination. You can use the notes you have prepared for this purpose.

Doctors may not always address all points of importance to their patients of their own accord. To engage in a meaningful conversation with your doctor and make better decisions about medical treatments, it may be useful to ask the following questions:

• What happens if I don’t do anything?
• What are the risks and chances of success associated with the suggested treatment?
• What effect will the treatment have on my daily life?
• What can I do to improve my health? What do I need to avoid?

If there’s anything you haven’t understood, calmly repeat your question. You have the right to be fully and clearly informed. There is a simple way to avoid misunderstandings – at the end of the consultation, summarize the main points in your own words. Some formulations you can use are listed below:

• “Have I understood correctly that…”
• “The key point I’m taking away from this is that…”
• “So, your opinion is that…”

If there’s something you haven’t understood properly, this gives the doctor an opportunity to clarify.

How can I bring up issues that I find uncomfortable?

Most reasons for visiting the doctor are unpleasant. The more sensitive the topic, the more difficult it is to talk about – finding worms in your bowel movements or having problems with sex are just two examples. However, remember that you have already succeeded in taking the first step by making an appointment. Now you need to be honest. To only way to get help is to be open about all problems and symptoms you are experiencing. Doctors have been trained in discussing such topics and in treating the full range of health-related problems that can be encountered. They won’t make judgments and are also bound by doctor-patient confidentiality. 

A choice between various treatments is available for many health conditions. All treatments – including the choice to simply wait and see – have their own benefits and drawbacks. The decisions as to which treatment option to pursue and whether testing is required lie in the hands of the patient as well as the doctor. 

Medical knowledge is provided by the doctor – but you as the patient know what best suits your needs and life circumstances. In health science, this concept is known as “shared decision making”. The questions listed above in relation to the risks, effects and chances of success associated with a particular treatment may help you in making important decisions about your health.

Before making a decision, you can review the following points:

• Am I clear about which treatment options are available and what risks and chances of success are associated with them?
• Do I know enough about what exactly is involved in each treatment option?
• Do I know what the next steps are?

If you are unable to make a decision, you must not allow yourself to be pushed into making one. Excluding cases of medical emergency, you can ask for another appointment and request suitable information material, such as decision-making aids (“Entscheidungshilfen”). 

In some cases, it may be useful to seek a second medical opinion. For more information, see the article discussing the procedure in relation to second opinions.

Following your visit to the doctor, you can find out more information about your condition and about any upcoming tests or procedures. It is important that you use reputable, independent and verified sources for your research. For details of how to identify such sources, refer to the article on improving health literacy.

If a decision has not yet been made, take time to weigh up the various options. It may be beneficial to discuss things with a person you trust. Together you could also write down all advantages and disadvantages of each option. 

Experts have prepared decision-making aids for certain health conditions. Each consists of a compilation of information and questions intended to help people figure out what is important to them personally. It is easier to make a decision if you are fully aware of your own wishes and expectations.

Decision-making aids for a range of health conditions are provided on the health portal of the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (Institut für Qualität und Wirtschaftlichkeit im Gesundheitswesen, IQWiG).

IQWiG has also developed a general decision-making aid for all health-related decisions, which is similarly available on the IQWiG portal gesundheitsinformation.de, where it can be filled in and printed out.

Practical tips for preparing for a doctor’s appointment are provided on the website www.patienten-information.de.

Detailed tips for preparing for a visit to the doctor are provided on the website of the Patient University at the Hanover Medical School.

The Action League for Patient Safety (“Aktionsbündnis Patientensicherheit”, APS) has developed a guide to help patients prepare for the next discussion they have with their doctor or pharmacist in relation to their medication. The guide proposes five questions to ask about your medication and is available (in German) on the APS website.

You will find detailed information about medication treatment plans on the website of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Providers (Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung, KBV).