This article is for general information only. It has been checked against the sources listed below but has not been reviewed by a medical professional.
It is easy to remember a question after an appointment has ended. A short list can help you raise the points that matter to your family while leaving clinical interpretation to the health professional. Healthdirect’s Question Builder is designed for preparing and prioritising appointment questions, and Children’s Health Queensland recommends writing down questions for a child’s appointment.
How to use this checklist
- Choose only the prompts that fit the purpose of the appointment.
- Put your most important question first.
- Add the words you want to use rather than trying to make the note sound clinical.
- Invite your child to add a question if they want to and the situation allows.
- Leave space to record the health professional’s answer or agreed next step.
Questions to ask before the appointment
- What is this appointment for?
- Is there anything the clinic wants us to bring?
- Should we bring a health record book, appointment letter, medicine list, referral, test report or other document?
- Is there anything the clinic wants us to do before the appointment?
- Can the clinic arrange an interpreter or other communication support?
- Can we ask for accessibility adjustments or a longer appointment if needed?
- Can a support person come with us?
- Are there any fees or other practical details we should know before attending?
Questions about what you have noticed
- Which concern or change should I explain first?
- What details would be most useful for you to know?
- Would it help if I describe when it started, how often it happens or what I have noticed around it?
- Are any notes, photos or records relevant to this conversation?
- Which parts of my child’s health or family history are relevant today?
- Is there anything important that I have not mentioned?
These prompts are for describing observations, not interpreting them. The health professional can decide which details are relevant and explain what they mean in context.
Questions for understanding the explanation
- What are you checking or considering today?
- Could you explain that term in plain language?
- Could you say that again in a different way?
- What information matters most for us to understand?
- What choices are available?
- How does each choice relate to what matters for my child and family?
- Can we pause while I check that I have understood?
- Could you write down the main points?
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care’s Ask Share Know resource supports asking questions, sharing what matters and checking that information is understood.
Questions about a test, treatment or procedure
- What is the purpose of this test, treatment or procedure?
- What could it help you find out or achieve?
- What are the possible benefits?
- What are the possible risks or downsides?
- Are there other options, including a simpler option?
- What could happen if we wait or do not proceed?
- Is there anything we need to do beforehand?
- What will happen during it?
- How can my child be involved or supported?
- When and how will we receive the result or next information?
- Who will explain the result in the context of my child?
- Are there costs we should know about?
Australia’s Charter of Healthcare Rights information describes rights including partnership and clear information. For an examination, Healthdirect explains that the clinician should describe what will happen and provide an opportunity for questions.
Questions about medicines
- What is this medicine for?
- What is the exact name of the medicine?
- How should it be used?
- How long should it be used for?
- What should we do if a dose is missed?
- What side effects or problems should we ask about?
- Could it interact with another medicine, supplement, allergy or health condition?
- Is there written information we can take away?
- Who should we contact if the instructions are unclear?
Use the answers given by the doctor, nurse or pharmacist. This checklist does not supply medicine instructions and should not be used to start, stop or change a medicine.
Questions for a routine child health check
- Which areas of my child’s health, growth or development are you reviewing today?
- Are there questions you would like to ask my child directly?
- Which observations from home would be useful to discuss?
- Is there anything you would like us to record before the next routine visit?
- What is the next routine check or follow-up mentioned in our plan?
- Which official record or child health book should be updated?
Questions your child may want to ask
- What is going to happen today?
- Why are you doing that?
- Can you explain it in words I understand?
- Can I ask you a question on my own or with my parent or carer?
- Can I have a moment or a break?
- What do you want me to do next?
Questions to ask before you leave
- Could you summarise what we discussed?
- What have we agreed will happen next?
- Which next step will the clinic arrange, and which step should our family arrange?
- What exact instructions should I write down?
- When and how should we expect any result, letter, referral or booking information?
- Who should we contact if we do not understand the plan?
- Can we have a copy of the appointment letter, summary or other relevant record?
- Is there another question you expected us to ask?
Using Nucentra for appointment preparation
If you already use Nucentra, its current Appointment Prep tools can help you save the appointment reason, questions, notes and follow-ups locally on the iPhone or iPad where the app is used. Put the priority question at the top, use the list as a prompt during the conversation and record clinician-provided instructions without interpreting them.
Nucentra is a local-first record-keeping companion. It does not provide personalised medical answers, diagnose or treat, and it does not send your list to a clinician. Learn about the current product on the Nucentra product page and review current storage information in the Nucentra Privacy Policy.
Practical prompt: Save the questions you want to ask before the appointment, then keep the health professional’s answers and agreed next steps with your local notes.
Sources
- Healthdirect — Question Builder (date not stated; accessed 2 August 2026).
- Children’s Health Queensland — Going to an appointment (last updated May 2025; accessed 2 August 2026).
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care — Ask Share Know (last updated 29 April 2026; accessed 2 August 2026).
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care — Understanding your healthcare rights (last updated 29 April 2026; accessed 2 August 2026).
- Healthdirect — Physical examination by a doctor (last reviewed July 2025; accessed 2 August 2026).
This article uses Australian health sources. If you live outside Australia, check advice from your local health authority or healthcare professional.
