PQRST Method for Pain Assessment

P = Provokes
o

What causes pain?

What makes it better?

What makes it worse?

Q = Quality
o
o

What does it feel like?

Is it sharp?

Dull?

Stabbing?

Burning?

Crushing? (Try to let patient describe the pain, sometimes they say what they think you would like to hear.)

R = Radiates
o
o

Where does the pain radiate?

Is it in one place?

Does it go anywhere else?

Did it start elsewhere and now localized to one spot?

S = Severity
o

How severe is the pain on a scale of 1 - 10?

( This is a difficult one as the rating will differ from patient to patient. )

T = Time
o
o

Time pain started?

How long did it last?

Other questions to ask and look for....

o
o

Any medication or allergies?

Does it hurt on deep inspiration?

Activity at onset?

Any history of pain?

Is it the same?

Different?

Any family history of heart disease lung problems, stroke or hypertension?

Check LOC.

Pupils?

JVD?

Midline trachea?

Any recent trauma?