Before a procedure, the physician asks about your existing conditions, all the medicines and supplements you take, your allergies, any operations and procedures you have had, whether you are pregnant and any tendency to bleed. These questions are there to determine whether the procedure is suitable for you. The decision on suitability is made at the end of the consultation.
These questions can seem like unnecessary detail. Yet the assessment before a procedure is the stage at which safety is established. The World Health Organization (opens in a new tab) reports that around one in every 10 patients is harmed in health care, that medication-related harm affects one in every 30 patients, and that more than 50% of harm is preventable.
The same source states that informing patients and involving them in their care may reduce the burden of harm by up to 15%. In other words, answering these questions in full contributes directly to safety.
Which questions are asked, and why?
“Do you have any known conditions?” Diabetes, blood pressure, thyroid, heart, kidney and liver conditions may change both the suitability of the procedure and the plan.
“Which medicines do you take?” In particular, blood thinners, blood pressure and diabetes medicines, corticosteroids and medicines that suppress the immune system are asked about separately. A list is sufficient; if you prefer, you can bring the boxes as well.
“Do you take any vitamin, mineral or herbal products?” Because these products are not obtained on prescription, they often go unmentioned; however, they may affect the tendency to bleed and laboratory results. For details, see our article Telling Your Physician About Supplement Use.
“Do you have any known allergies?” Drug, food and contact allergies are covered; whether a reaction developed during a previous procedure is asked about separately.
“Do you have a tendency to bleed?” Prolonged bleeding after a tooth extraction or from small cuts, a tendency to bruise, and a family history of a bleeding disorder are asked about.
“What is your pregnancy status?” Pregnancy, a suspicion of pregnancy and the breastfeeding period change the plan in many procedures.
“What operations or procedures have you had?” In particular, any previous interventions in the area where the procedure is to be performed, and the state of any scarring, are assessed.
“Do you have an active infection or a fever?” An active infection, whether at the procedure site or elsewhere, may require the procedure to be postponed.
“Have you had a similar procedure before?” When and where it was done, and how it went, are asked about.
What should you bring to the consultation?
- A list of all the medicines you take with their doses, or the boxes
- A list of your vitamin, mineral and herbal products, or their packaging
- Test and imaging results from the past year
- Any discharge summaries and operation reports you have
- A list of your known allergies
- If you take regular measurements, your blood pressure or blood sugar records
In which patients is further assessment needed?
In the situations below, the assessment before a procedure is extended, and some procedures may not be found suitable:
- In patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- In patients taking blood thinners or with a bleeding disorder
- In patients with diabetes, or whose blood pressure is not under control
- In patients with advanced kidney or liver failure
- In patients receiving active oncological treatment (follow-up lies with the relevant specialty)
- In patients receiving treatment that suppresses the immune system
- In patients with an active infection, a wound or a skin condition at the procedure site
- In patients with a known drug or substance allergy
- In patients under 18 years of age (assessment lies within the field of paediatrics; this content has been prepared for adults)
Every procedure has its own conditions of suitability and unsuitability; you can read them on the relevant service pages.
Points to be aware of
Incomplete information increases the risk. A medicine you do not remember, or a supplement you do not mention, leaves the assessment incomplete. If you are not sure, bring the box.
The decision on suitability is made at the end of the consultation. Having made an appointment does not mean that the procedure will go ahead. The assessment may end in a decision to postpone the procedure or not to perform it.
Following the recommendations given after the procedure is part of the process. What should and should not be done afterwards is given to you in writing.
Results vary from person to person.
When should you see a physician without delay?
If you experience these symptoms during treatment, contact your physician without delay:
- Increasing redness and warmth, swelling or discharge at the procedure site
- A high fever
- Bleeding that is more than expected
- A widespread rash or itching
- Unexpected and steadily increasing pain
- A complaint that does not go away even though you have followed the recommendations given after the procedure
In the event of shortness of breath, swelling of the face or tongue, difficulty swallowing, bleeding that does not stop, or fainting, go directly to the emergency department.
Frequently asked questions
Why are these questions so detailed?
Whether the procedure is suitable for you is determined in the light of your existing conditions and the medicines you take. Incomplete information may lead to an incorrect suitability assessment. The World Health Organization reports that involving the patient in their care reduces harm markedly.
Do I have to mention the supplement I take?
Yes. Supplements may not count as medicines, but they may affect the tendency to bleed and laboratory results. Bringing a list of them, or the boxes, is more reliable than trying to remember the name and the contents.
Could the procedure not go ahead as a result of the assessment?
Yes. That is the purpose of the assessment. If the conditions of suitability are not met, the procedure is postponed or not performed; the reason is explained to you.
I suspect I may be pregnant; do I need to say so?
Yes, you need to mention it even if it is only a suspicion. Pregnancy and the breastfeeding period change the plan in many procedures; some are not suitable during these periods.
Are tests requested before a procedure?
It varies with the procedure and with you. For some procedures a blood test is requested beforehand; for others it is not. If you have results from the past year to hand, bringing them prevents unnecessary repetition.
How will I find out what I need to do after the procedure?
At the end of the procedure you are given a verbal explanation and written recommendations. You can also read what needs to be done afterwards, and the possible side effects, on the relevant service page.
Sources
- World Health Organization, Patient safety fact sheet, 11 September 2023. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/patient-safety (opens in a new tab)
- Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye, Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency, Sağlık Beyanı (Gıda ve Takviye Edici Gıdalarda Sağlık Beyanı Kullanımı Hakkında Yönetmelik, Official Gazette 20 April 2023 / 32169). https://titck.gov.tr/faaliyetalanlari/denetim/saglik-beyani (opens in a new tab)
