Questions to ask a health professional

thumbnail of Questions to ask

DOWNLOAD THE FACT SHEET

Keeping it short

Short questions that have been shown to improve the quality of information that doctors
provide about treatment options:

  1. What are my options?
  2. What are the possible benefits and harms of those options?
  3. How likely are each of those benefits and harms to happen to me?
  4. What will happen if I do nothing?

Choosing Wisely

Questions recommended by the Choosing Wisely organisation in Australia, to help avoid
unnecessary tests and treatments:

  1. Do I really need this test, treatment or procedure?
  2. What are the risks?
  3. Are there simpler, safer options?
  4. What happens if I don’t do anything?
  5. What are the costs?

To access these questions in 10 different languages, click here

Informed by Shepherd H, et al Three questions that patients can ask to improve the quality of information physicians give about treatment
options: A cross-over trial. Patient Education and Counselling. 2011;84:379-385; Choosing Wisely http://www.choosingwisely.org.au/
resources/consumers/5-questions-to-ask-your-doctor. Questions specifically related to overdiagnosis are currently in development.