‘Ask 3 Questions’ is a campaign from the Health Foundation which aims to help patients become more involved in their treatment and care.
Working together with your healthcare professional to decide on the best course of action and support should help you make more informed decisions about your health, and help you feel in control of your care.
The key message for patients is to always ‘Ask 3 questions’ when discussing your treatment.
Ask
- What are my options?
- What are the possible benefits and risks of those options?
- What help do I need to make my decision?
Often, you will find there are choices to make about your healthcare.
For example you may need to:
- decide whether or not you want to have treatment
- choose between different types of treatment
- plan to change your lifestyle to improve your health
- what you choose to do should depend on what is important to you.
If you are asked to make a choice, you may have further questions that you want to ask. Talking over your options with your family or friends, and writing a list of the questions to take to your appointment may help.
Using the 3 Questions, and being more active in your care can make your treatment more satisfying and effective.
The ‘Ask 3 Questions’ campaign is about helping you feel in control of your care and is a part of our wider approach to self-care.