Advanced Health Assessment Practice Exam

Which of the following questions best assesses the "C" in Oldcart?

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

2. How would you describe the pain?

3. When did the pain start?

4. Does the pain radiate anywhere else?

The correct answer is: How would you describe the pain?

The correct choice effectively evaluates the "C" in the OLD CART acronym, which stands for Character. This component seeks to obtain descriptive information regarding the nature of the patient's pain or symptom. By asking how the patient would describe the pain, such as whether it is sharp, dull, throbbing, or burning, the clinician gains valuable insight into the specific qualities of the pain, which can aid in diagnosis and management. Options that focus on other elements in the OLD CART method provide different aspects of assessment. For instance, inquiries about whether the pain is constant or intermittent relate to the "T" for Timing, while questions regarding when the pain started pertain to the same aspect. Additionally, questions about radiation touch on the "R" for Radiation, which examines if the pain spreads to other areas. Each of these elements is essential for a thorough pain assessment, but only the correct choice directly addresses the Character component.