Helping Patients Talk About Pain

This exercise can be completed by the patient while waiting to be seen by the clinician or as part of the history portion of a medical exam.

• Helps patients describe objectively and systematically the duration, severity, and extent of pain that they feel
• Provides the clinician with a specific and precise description of pain that can help facilitate the clinician’s physical examination and recording of the patient’s medical history
• NOT a validated diagnostic tool—intended to help patients describe pain to the clinicians in charge of their care