Which question is most effective for determining the location and intensity of chest pain in an adult patient?

Which question is most effective for determining the location and intensity of chest pain in an adult patient?

• A. "Would you describe the pain in your chest as a 10?"
• B. "Do you have a radiating pain emanating from your left chest?"
• C. "Can you please describe the location and intensity of the pain?"
• D. "Is the pain you are experiencing bearable?"

Answer: (C)

The most effective question for determining the location and intensity of chest pain in an adult patient is one that encourages a detailed response and gathers relevant information. Asking someone to describe the location and intensity of their pain allows the patient to provide a comprehensive account of their experience, which is critical for appropriate assessment and management. This question is open-ended and allows the patient to articulate not only where the pain is located (e.g., central, left, right, etc.) but also its intensity, which can help to gauge the severity of their condition. Patients might also provide additional context or descriptors regarding the quality of the pain (sharp, dull, etc.), which can further inform the clinical evaluation. Other choices may guide the conversation, but they do not solicit the same breadth of information. For instance, asking about pain intensity using a specific number limits the patient’s response to a single dimension of their experience, which can overlook important details about location. Queries about radiating pain or whether the pain is bearable tend to focus on specific aspects of the pain rather than inviting a comprehensive description, which is critical to understanding the patient's condition fully.

The most effective question for determining the location and intensity of chest pain in an adult patient is one that encourages a detailed response and gathers relevant information. Asking someone to describe the location and intensity of their pain allows the patient to provide a comprehensive account of their experience, which is critical for appropriate assessment and management.

This question is open-ended and allows the patient to articulate not only where the pain is located (e.g., central, left, right, etc.) but also its intensity, which can help to gauge the severity of their condition. Patients might also provide additional context or descriptors regarding the quality of the pain (sharp, dull, etc.), which can further inform the clinical evaluation.

Other choices may guide the conversation, but they do not solicit the same breadth of information. For instance, asking about pain intensity using a specific number limits the patient’s response to a single dimension of their experience, which can overlook important details about location. Queries about radiating pain or whether the pain is bearable tend to focus on specific aspects of the pain rather than inviting a comprehensive description, which is critical to understanding the patient's condition fully.