Advanced Health Assessment Practice Exam

Which of the following questions addresses the timing aspect of a patient's pain?

1. Where is the pain located?

2. How would you describe the pain?

3. Is the pain constant or does it come and go?

4. What makes the pain better or worse?

The correct answer is: Is the pain constant or does it come and go?

The selected answer correctly addresses the timing aspect of a patient's pain because it specifically inquires about the pattern of the pain—whether it is constant or intermittent. Understanding the timing of pain is crucial for a healthcare provider, as it can offer insights into potential underlying conditions, the nature of the pain, and how it may respond to various therapies. For instance, constant pain might suggest a chronic issue or inflammation, while pain that comes and goes could indicate a condition that is episodic in nature, such as migraines or gallbladder attacks. By asking this question, the clinician can gather important information that is pivotal for diagnosis and management. In contrast, questions regarding the location of the pain focus on where the pain occurs, which is valuable but does not provide any information about when the pain is experienced. Descriptions of the pain help to characterize its quality but also do not touch upon timing. Meanwhile, inquiries into what alleviates or exacerbates the pain address the triggers and responses to certain actions but do not explicitly address when the pain occurs. Thus, the emphasis on the interval or frequency of the pain makes the selected question the most relevant for understanding the timing of a patient's pain.