| Mnemonic | General Question | Adapted Question |
|---|
| Character | Describe the sign or symptom (feeling, appearance, sound, smell, or taste if applicable). | "What does the pain feel like?" |
| Onset | When did it begin? | "When did this pain start?" |
| Location | Where is it? Does it radiate? Does it occur anywhere else? | "Where does it hurt the most? Does it radiate or go to any other part of your body?" |
| Duration | How long does it last? Does it recur? | "How long does the pain last? Does it come and go or is it constant?" |
| Severity | How bad is it? How much does it bother you? | "How intense is the pain? Rate it on a scale of 1 to 10." |
| Pattern | What makes it better or worse? | "What makes your back pain worse or better? Are there any treatments you’ve tried that relieve the pain?" |
| Associated factors/how it affects the client | What other symptoms occur with it? How does it affect you? | "What do you think caused it to start? Do you have any other problems that seem related to your back pain? How does this pain affect your life and daily activities?" |