Week 2: OPQRSTU

Question 1

What should you do if you find an abnormal assessment finding? (3)

Answer 1

• OPQRSTU
• old/new
• better/worse

Question 2

What does O stand for? (4)

Answer 2

• onset
• When did this first occur?
• sudden, gradual, or ongoing?
• Has it happened before?

Question 3

What does P stand for? (3)

Answer 3

• precipitate or palliation
• do you believe something precipitated the event or brought this on?
• Anything that makes it better or helps it go away? (palliation)
  ie. rest, activity, cold

Question 4

What does Q stand for? (3)

Answer 4

• quality
• Describe the problem or symptom in detail (ie. pain)
• can you describe it to me?
  dull, sharp, crushing,

Question 5

What does R stand for? (2)

Answer 5

• Region or radiation (or referred for pain)
• does this occur in a specific location on the body and does it radiate to other areas?
  ie. pain in shoulder radiation to the jaw
  theres more

Question 6

What does S stand for? (3)

Answer 6

• severity
• can be a single estimate of severity or a comparison (better/worse)
• If 0 is not pain and 10 is the worst
  ie. When you walk up a flight of stairs does your breathing feel like you have been walking for a while?

Question 7

What does T stand for? (2)

Answer 7

• Time or timing (history of event, expansion of onset)
• Is there a pattern you have noticed? Pattern of onset/resolution or a pattern of change?
  ie. Does it always start at the same point in an activity?

Question 8

What does U stand for? (4)

Answer 8

• Understanding
• What do you this caused this?
• This is the patient’s understanding of the event, not necessarily accurate but can be helpful in diagnosis
• patient’s know their symptoms well and notice small changes
• ie. Does this feel like your arthritic pain or do you think it’s something else?