BBC Learning English
How to … Getting clarification from a doctor
How to … © BBC Learning English 2007
Yvonne: Hello – this is "How to…" from bbclearningenglish.com and I'm Yvonne
Archer. Today – how to make sure we understand what the doctor says so that
we take medicine safely and effectively.
When we're not feeling well, simple instructions from a doctor can seem complicated – even for a native English speaker. So asking the doctor to repeat
his or her instructions more slowly and writing them down can help. But
asking a few simple questions can also be really useful. For example, the
doctor might prescribe medicine for a bad cough and explain how to take it:
INSERT 1
Take two teaspoonfuls three times a day after meals for two weeks.
Yvonne: Now that's a very short sentence but it contains a lot of important information – and is typical of a doctor's instructions.
INSERT 2 (more slowly)
Take two teaspoonfuls three times a day after meals for two weeks.
Yvonne: At this stage, it's a good idea to check that you understand all that the doctor is saying - and ask for further information if necessary. For example: 'What kind of medicine is it?' - 'What kind of medicine is it?' And the doctor might reply…
INSERT 3
It's a cough syrup.
Yvonne: Listen out for the word 'syrup' from the doctor because that means you're being given something to drink - in very small amounts. 'Syrup' is an uncountable noun, so you could ask: 'How much should I take?' - 'How much should I take?' to check you understand what the doctor's saying.
INSERT 4
Take three teaspoonfuls.
Yvonne: The word 'teaspoonfuls' is the size of spoon the doctor wants you to measure out the syrup with. But if you're not sure what type of spoon that is, ask the doctor: 'What size spoon?' or more specifically 'How big is a teaspoon?' - 'How big is a teaspoon?' You'll probably get an answer like this:
INSERT 5
A teaspoon is the small one we use to put sugar in our tea.
Yvonne: And if you're still not 100% sure, don't be afraid to get further clarification by saying: 'So, that's three teaspoonfuls'. This will give the doctor a chance to say 'yes, that's right' - or repeat the instructions if you've got them wrong.
So we know what type of medicine we are being asked to take and how much,
but there are still three more details to listen out for: how often should we take
the medicine, when and for how long. 'How often do I take it?' - 'How often do
I take it?'…
INSERT 6
Take it after meals.
Yvonne: The medicine should be taken after meals – after we've eaten breakfast, lunch and dinner.
INSERT 7
Three times a day after meals.
Yvonne: Finally, have we understood what the doctor says about how long we should take our medicine? 'How long should I take the medicine for?' That's 'How
long should I take the medicine for?'
INSERT 8
…for two weeks.
Take two teaspoonfuls three times a day after meals for two weeks.
IDENT
Yvonne: Today on bbclearningenglish.com – how to ask for clarification from the
doctor to be sure that we understand what's being said. So far, we've asked
questions about cough syrup but they can also be used to ask about other types
of medicines, words and key phrases that the doctor might use. Let's hear
some…
INSERT 9
Don't take the medicine on an empty stomach.
Yvonne: …he or she means that you should take it after you've eaten something - usually so that it works as well as possible or doesn't make you feel sick. But if
you didn't understand, why not ask: "How should I take it?"
RPT INSERT 9
Don't take the medicine on an empty stomach.
Yvonne: If the doctor mentions 'an inhaler' –
INSERT 10
Use the inhaler every eight hours.
Yvonne: You know that the doctor is asking you to take a type of medicine that you breathe in – usually for conditions like asthma. The dosage of an inhaler is
usually measured out by 'puffs' – how many times you breathe it in. So here,
you might want to ask: 'How many puffs should I take?' and 'When should I
take them?'…
INSERT 11
Take two puffs each time - and use the inhaler every eight hours.
Yvonne: Well, that's all for today's "How to…" but remember, for a recap and more on how to make sure you understand what the doctor says – plus, test what you've learned with our quizzes, games and other programmes – why not visit
bbclearningenglish.com. In the meantime, stay healthy and happy!