If you’ve been diagnosed with hepatitis you’ll probably be having health care appointments and tests on a fairly regular basis. This can sometimes be overwhelming — but being prepared for what to expect and how to ask the most useful questions can lessen the stress.
The following free resources help to demystify test results, provide valuable hints on how to get the best out of appointments, how to find information about medications, and how to make sure you’re being treated respectfully by health professionals.
Contact us at if you would like assistance in accessing these, or any other, resources.
Managing Stress and Test
Managing the stress of medical appointments
London British Liver Trust 2024. 5p.
Some tips to help prepare you for any medical appointments including: deciding what you want from the appointment, stress busting techniques while waiting; how to manage medical interactions – and how to follow up afterwards. Contains links to further information.
Worried about getting a blood test? 5 tips to make them easier (and still accurate)
The Conversation, Melbourne/Sydney, 2023. 4p article.
This article discusses the processes involved in taking blood and what happens after it’s collected. It gives advice about the best way to prepare for a variety of blood tests, tips for improving the experience, and what may happen after the test
Planning Your Questions
It’s not unusual to come away from a medical appointment thinking, “should have asked that”. These tips are useful for preparing your questions so you get the most out of your appointments.
Question Builder
HealthDirect & Aust Commission on Safety & Quality in Healthcare, Canberra, 2017. Interactive website and 3p. printout.
Be ready for any medical appointment by creating a list of general questions to ask your doctor or specialist. A range of questions can be chosen to cover any queries about symptoms, tests, costs, treatment options, risks, benefits etc. and the list can be printed to take to your appointment.
Helpful questions for your next liver check
Hepatitis Queensland, Brisbane, 2023. 1p factsheet
A single page with specific questions about liver tests and what they might show, with space for notes, designed to be taken with you to GP appointments.
Understanding Hepatitis B Tests and Results
A hepatitis B test (to see if you have hep B or to check for immunity) can involve terminology that is complex and can be difficult to understand, including HBsAg positive, hep B surface antibody, hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HBs reactive.
Your Hepatitis B Test Results Explained
Hepatitis SA, Adelaide. 5p.
These five information sheets explain in simple, easy to understand language what the common hepatitis B results mean. Each sheet corresponds to a set of results. Find the one that matches yours to see what your results mean for you and what you need to do.
Hepatitis B Testing
Hepatitis SA & SA Health, Adelaide. 1p.
This chart from SA Health explains what the tests measure and what the results indicate.
Hepatitis B Testing Chart
Hepatitis NSW, Sydney. 1p.
Infographic charts showing hepatitis B testing results are available from bit.ly/hepb_testing. To download, scroll down to ‘What does your hepatitis B test result mean’. Available in Chinese, English and Korean.
What you need to know about telehealth for hepatitis (B or C)
Hepatitis NSW, Sydney Hepatitis NSW 2022 (updated. 3p.)
If you prefer to have an appointment over the phone or via a screen (smartphone, laptop, computer or tablet) you could ask if telehealth appointments are available. These web pages explain eligibility, benefits, how to access, additional services and follow up appointment information.
Information on telehealth and hepatitis C.
Information on telehealth and hepatitis B.
Codes of Conduct
If you’re ever concerned about your interactions with any health practitioners: there are codes of conduct that will explain your rights to be treated fairly and with respect.
Codes of conduct
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), Sydney, 2022.
Information about the codes for registered health practitioners (including dental, physiotherapy, pharmacy etc) can be found at the Ahpra site.
Good medical practice: a code of conduct for doctors in Australia
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), October 2020
Information about the code for Australian medical doctors is also available at the Ahpra site.
Learning About Medications
Take the confusion out of medications
Medsearch, Melbourne, 2024. Online search engine
Search for the most up-to-date medicines information including reasons for use, what to know when taking, interactions with other medicines, how to use, what to do/not to do, possible side effects, and general consumer medicine information printouts.
Last updated 18 September 2024
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