Week Three

Question 1

What is an important aspect to remember about pain?

Answer 1

Pain is subjective… whatever the patient says is what they are feeling

Question 2

What is the Gate Control Theory?

Answer 2

we put a gate or close the gate over the pain by giving patient medications (relaxations, distraction) - applicable to chronic and acute pain

Question 3

What is the acronym used when assessing pain?

Answer 3

OPQRSTUV

Question 4

What does the “O” stand for in the acronym OPQRSTUV when assessing pain?

Answer 4

Onset

• Timeframe
• When did it start?

Question 5

What does the “P” stand for in the acronym OPQRSTUV when assessing pain?

Answer 5

Provocative or Palliative

• Does your pain increase with movement or activity?
• Are any treatments effective?
• Palliative means what makes your pain better

Question 6

What does the “Q” stand for in the acronym OPQRSTUV when assessing pain?

Answer 6

Quality of the Pain

• Characteristics of Pain (sharp, stabbing, dull, aching)
• What does your pain feel like?
• What words would you use to describe your pain?

Question 7

What does the “R” stand for in the acronym OPQRSTUV when assessing pain?

Answer 7

Region/Radiation of the body/location

• Where is your pain located?

-Does it radiate and move to other areas?

• Does it move anywhere

Question 8

What does the “S” stand for in the acronym OPQRSTUV when assessing pain?

Answer 8

Severity of the Pain

• On a scale of 0-10
• Ask them “10 is the worst pain that you have ever experienced”

Question 9

What does the “T” stand for in the acronym OPQRSTUV when assessing pain?

Answer 9

Timing/onset of pain (or treatment)

• When did the pain start?
• Is it constant or dull, intermittent pain?
• Are you in pain at different times of the day?
• Treatment → what have you done to help the pain? Medications?

Question 10

What does the “U” stand for in the acronym OPQRSTUV when assessing pain?

Answer 10

Understanding of Pain

• What do you believe is causing this pain?
• Do you take medications to manage your pain?

Question 11

What does the “V” stand for in the acronym OPQRSTUV when assessing pain?

Answer 11

Value

• Tell me about this pain?
• Is it impacting your activities of daily life?

Question 12

What are the 2 types of pain?

Answer 12

Acute Pain: we know what happened, like a broken arm and we can fix it

Chronic Pain: pain goes longer than 6 months

Question 13

What are the 4 different sources of pain?

Answer 13

1) Somatic: pain with skin, ligament, bones

2) Visceral: internal organs (appendicitis, gallbladder pain)

3) Neuropathic: (nerve pain)

4) Referred: Heart attack (shoulder, jaw pain), or appendicitis (McBurney’s point)

Question 14

What are 9 things you should collect about a patient when performing a health history?

Answer 14

1) Biographical Data

2) Source of History

3) Reason for Seeking Care

4) Current Health or History of Current Illness

5) Past Health

6) Family History

7) Review Systems

8) Functional Assessment (ADL’s)

9) Perception of Health

Question 15

What are some important things to collect about a patient’s past health?

Answer 15

• Childhood illnesses
• Accidents or injuries
• Serious or chronic illnesses
• Hospitalizations
• Operations (surgeries)
• Obstetrical History
• Immunizations
• Most recent examination date
• Allergies
• Current Medications