Patient/Carer self-advocacy measuring tool

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Communicating with doctors

Patient/Carer self-advocacy measuring tool

This self-advocacy tool is a short set of questions to help you assess how strong you are at advocating for yourself. Take this 2 minute questionnaire and find out how well you advocate for yourself, and where you might be able to improve.

The Communicating with Doctors video series could assist you with building confidence to become a better self-advocate and feel more in control of your care.

I like to gather information about my cancer care.

Learning about your or your loved one’s cancer, treatment options, possible side effects and available support services can help you better advocate for yourself. Gaining new knowledge and becoming more interested in your cancer may help you better cope with your illness. It also allows you to actively participate during appointments and confidently make decisions that are right for you.

If my doctor recommends something that I don’t understand, I ask.

Patients who actively engage during their appointments and ask questions feel more in control. They are also more likely to receive care that suits their values and preferences. It is your right to ask questions and be involved in open and honest communication.

When decisions are being made about treatment options, I give my opinions.

By participating in the decision-making process, patients have better control over their health. Doctors need patients and families to share what matters to them, and patients need doctors to help them compare treatment options and evaluate their effectiveness based on the patients’ values and goals.

If I am nervous, sad, or worried about my care, I share my feelings with my doctor.

Telling your doctor how you are feeling helps you feel in control. Sharing how you feel also helps your doctor consider your emotional needs when planning your treatment with you. Telling them your worries and fears, or as carer, worries that your loved ones have, helps them know you as a person and they will be in a better place to support you.

I make sure my rights, as a patient or carer, are respected.

Your healthcare rights are set out in the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights and providers must respect them. By asserting your rights, you ensure that you receive safe, high-quality care.

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Cancer Council Victoria would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work. We would also like to pay respect to the elders past and present and extend that respect to all other Aboriginal people.