your next visit

Some parents may find themselves feeling rushed, intimidated, or simply forgetful during their child's visit to their healthcare provider. Or they may not understand what the healthcare provider is saying or recommending. Remember that your healthcare provider is there to help you, and that you have a right to have all of your questions answered.

Here are some tips to make sure you're giving your healthcare provider all the information they need to best treat your child, and that you're getting all of your questions answered.

Prepare in advance

Read through the entries that have been made in your child's Asthma Diary since your last visit and note any differences. Be sure to bring your notes, your child's Asthma Diary and his or her Asthma Action Plan to the appointment. Also, be prepared to answer questions from your healthcare provider about your child's symptoms, triggers and response to treatment. To get you started, consider the following:

  • Have any of your child's symptoms diminished or increased since the last appointment? (Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, sleep difficulties, tiredness, use of rescue medicine)
  • Do your child's asthma symptoms tend to be worse during the day or night?
  • Have there been times since your child's last appointment when their asthma symptoms were much more severe than normal? If so, what were the circumstances?
  • Have you had to visit the emergency room or urgent care center?
  • How often do you give your child their rescue medicine?
  • Does your child show any signs of side effects from their asthma medications?
  • Does your child have more or less trouble breathing when playing or exercising?

Compile a list of questions

Having your questions written down will help make sure that you don't forget anything during the actual visit. Knowing that you will have a limited period of time with your healthcare provider, decide which questions are most important to you, and plan on asking about those first. Create your own list or use the following:

  • What is the main problem? How severe is my child's asthma?
  • What do I need to do? Why is it important for me to do this?
  • Are there specific symptoms I should watch for?
  • Which triggers should I help my child avoid?
  • Are there specific changes I should make to our home to help relieve my child's symptoms?
  • What kind of controller medicine is best for my child? How often should I give it to him or her? What are the side effects? What are the alternatives?
  • What kind of rescue medicine is best for my child? What are the side effects? What are the alternatives?
  • Should I use a nebulizer or inhaler?

During the visit

  • Take notes and make sure you understand your healthcare provider's answers. If you don't, say so and ask them to explain the point again.
  • Ask for any handouts or printed material.
  • Review carefully any new medicine or dosages. Discuss possible side effects and voice any concerns you may have.
  • When you arrive home, re-read your notes and if there's anything you don't understand, call your provider to get your question answered.

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