Do You Have a Good Relationship with Your Doctor

1

After you leave the doctor’s office, you immediately

Dismiss his or her advice; you’ll do more research on the internet.

Wonder if you need to seek out a second opinion; you don’t really feel satisfied by this doctor’s diagnosis.

Start considering how you’ll need to change your routine to fit his instructions.

2

You try telling your physician you’ve been feeling down lately and wonder if some of the upheaval in your life has anything to do with the way your body is reacting. His or her reaction is to:

Listen politely but dismiss the connection.

Listen and take your emotional state into account.

Tell you he’d rather stick to facts and medical diagnoses.

3

For a typical visit with the doctor, you

Save up all your concerns over the last year, and bombard him at once.

You go to the doctor for checkups every year or two…or whenever you can remember to make an appointment.

Prioritize your immediate concern involving your current illness, but also bring up general health questions.

4

How long have you been with your doctor?

Since I left my pediatrician.

A few years; I switched because of personal differences with my previous doctor.

A couple of months, and I’m not sure if I’ll stick with him much longer. He’s my third in three years!

5

How much do you know about your medications?

I take the pills I’m prescribed and that’s about it.

I know my medications and their side effects, but I don’t like them. My doctor won’t discuss changes, though.

I keep track of all my medications, both in my head and on paper.

6

If asked by a friend, you would describe your doctor as

A quack.

Arrogant, but generally a good doctor.

A good doctor and a good listener.

7

How would you describe your online medical research skills?

Non-existent; I don’t trust anything the doctor doesn’t tell me.

Average; I'd like to know more about my health.

I’m an expert on most medical maladies.

8

The most personal interaction you’ve had with your physician involved:

A prescription slip.

A roll of the eyes when you described your symptoms.

A handshake and reassuring pat on the back.

9

If you asked your doctor, “What else could it be?” as Dr. Jerome Groopman, author of "How Doctors Think," advises, you’d most likely receive the following reaction:

A thoughtful pause, then a discussion about other possible diagnoses.

A tense, defensive dismissal.

A kindly but firm assurance that there was no other possible diagnosis.

10

Whether it is an addiction to fast food or the smoking habit you just can’t break, your doctor’s attitude to your bad habits is best described as:

Tolerant, but firm—you need to shape up.

Easygoing; hey, everyone’s got issues.

Frustrated and irritable; if you don’t take your health seriously, who will?

After you leave the doctor’s office, you immediately

You try telling your physician you’ve been feeling down lately and wonder if some of the upheaval in your life has anything to do with the way your body is reacting. His or her reaction is to:

For a typical visit with the doctor, you

How long have you been with your doctor?

How much do you know about your medications?

If asked by a friend, you would describe your doctor as

How would you describe your online medical research skills?

The most personal interaction you’ve had with your physician involved:

If you asked your doctor, “What else could it be?” as Dr. Jerome Groopman, author of "How Doctors Think," advises, you’d most likely receive the following reaction:

Whether it is an addiction to fast food or the smoking habit you just can’t break, your doctor’s attitude to your bad habits is best described as:

Something's Gotta Change

Not Bad, But You Can Do Better

You trust your doctor, which is a great start to a healthy doctor-patient relationship. However, trust yourself as well. If you find yourself feeling uneasy, don't accept things at face value. You can, and should, ask questions. After all, it is your health and happiness at stake.

Meant to Be

Congratulations! You have a great relationship with your doctor. While the lines of communications are open and tolerant, and you each respect the other, you also respect your own feelings and intuition. You're not too shy to speak up, but know when it is time to follow an expert opinion.