Language of Patient Complaints

Question 1

What is an objective finding?

Answer 1

Findings that can be measured observed, or tested by an examiner

Question 2

What are some examples of objective findings?

Answer 2

• Imaging
• Laboratory tests
• Orthopedic tests
• Visual sings
• Neurologic tests

Question 3

What is a subjective finding?

Answer 3

What the patient feels/complains of; this can also be measured but is based on patient’s perspective

Question 4

Oswestry low back disability index is an example of what type of finding?

Answer 4

Subjective finding

Question 5

Verbal/visual analog pain scales are an example of what type of finding?

Answer 5

Subjective finding

Question 6

Neck disability index is an example of what type of finding?

Answer 6

Subjective finding

Question 7

Outcome assessment tools are also called…

Answer 7

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs)

Question 8

Outcome assessment tools typically ask questions about…

Answer 8

how pain is during activities of daily living or how it is affecting ability to perform ADLs

Question 9

Oswestry low back index, NDI, and functional rating index are all examples of…

Answer 9

outcome assessment tools/patient reported outcome measures

Question 10

What is a sign of a disease?

Answer 10

Objective evidence of a disease or condition typically recognizable by provider, patient, or others

Question 11

What are some examples of signs of disease?

Answer 11

• Blood in stool
• Yellow sclera
• Visible swelling
• Skeletal deformity

Question 12

What is a symptom of a disease?

Answer 12

A subjective component that the patient feels; only the patient can detect a symptom

Question 13

What are some examples of symptoms?

Answer 13

• Pain
• Tingling
• Dizziness
• Fatigue

Question 14

If a patient notices a rash because it itches/burns, it is a…

Answer 14

symptom

Question 15

If a rash is visibly recognized, it is a….

Answer 15

sign

Question 16

Is a headache a sign or symptom?

Answer 16

Symptom

Question 17

Is low blood sugar a sign or symptom?

Answer 17

Sign

Question 18

Is fever a sign or symptom?

Answer 18

Sign

Question 19

What does it mean to qualify?

Answer 19

Put something in a category using a descriptive term

Question 20

What does it mean to quantify?

Answer 20

Count something

Question 21

What are some examples of qualification?

Answer 21

• Texture
• Color
• Shape

Question 22

What are some examples of quantification?

Answer 22

• Temperature
• Blood pressure
• Respiration rate
• Size

Question 23

What is hurt?

Answer 23

Personal experience of uncomfortable sensation; pain

Question 24

What is harm?

Answer 24

Tissue or structural damage to the body

Question 25

What is pain?

Answer 25

An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associate with, or resembling that associate with, actual or potential tissue damage

Question 26

What is suffering?

Answer 26

Affective (emotional), behavioral, and cognitive responses to pain and to the problems/experiences associated with pain and injury

Question 27

What is somatic pain?

Answer 27

Arising from stimulation of nerve endings in a bone, joint, ligament, or muscle/fascia

Question 28

What is referred pain?

Answer 28

Perceived in a region innervated by nerves other than those that innervate actual source of pain

Question 29

What is the physiologic basis or referred pain?

Answer 29

Convergence; sensory neurons from different peripheral sites converge in spinal cord and thalamus, then relayed to higher centers
Brain can’t distinguish true source of mixed signal

Question 30

What is radicular pain?

Answer 30

Pain that arises from irritation of a spinal nerve or its roots