OPQRST is a useful mnemonic (memory device) used by EMTs, paramedics, as well as nurses, medical assistants and other allied health professionals, for learning about your patient鈥檚 pain complaint. It is a conversation starter between you, the investigator, and the patient, your research subject.
Here are some suggestions on how to approach using OPQRST as a patient assessment tool:
- Onset: 鈥淒id your pain start suddenly or gradually get worse and worse?鈥� This is also a chance to ask, 鈥淲hat were you doing when the pain started?鈥�
- Provokes or Palliates: Instead of asking, 鈥淲hat provokes your pain?鈥� use real, casual words. Try, 鈥淲hat makes your pain better or worse?鈥�
- Quality: Asking, 鈥淚s your pain sharp or dull?鈥� limits your patient to two choices, when their pain might not be either. Instead ask, 鈥淲hat words would you use to describe your pain?鈥� or 鈥淲hat does your pain feel like?鈥�
- Radiates: This is another chance to use real, conversational words during the assessment. Asking, 鈥淒oes your pain radiate?鈥� sounds silly and pompous to the patient. Instead use this question, 鈥淧oint to where it hurts the most. Where does your pain go from there?鈥�
- Severity: Remember, pain is subjective and relative to each individual patient you treat. Have an open mind for any response from 0 to 10.
- Time: This is a reference to when the pain started or how long ago it started.
Use OPQRST wisely to get plentiful and useful clues about your patient鈥檚 pain complaint. Then use the tools, training and protocols available to you to manage the patient鈥檚 pain.
This is also an opportune time to investigate for associated signs and pertinent negatives.
This article, originally published March 19, 2009, has been updated.
