OPQRST


OPQRST is a mnemonic acronym used by medical professionals to accurately discern reasons for a patient's symptoms and history in the event of an acute illness. It is specifically adapted to elicit symptoms of a possible heart attack. Each letter stands for an important line of questioning for the patient assessment. This is usually taken along with vital signs and the SAMPLE history and would usually be recorded by the person delivering the aid, such as in the "Subjective" portion of a SOAP note, for later reference.
"PQRST" is sometimes used in conjunction.
The term "OPQRST-AAA" adds "aggravating/alleviating factors", "associated symptoms", and "attributions/adaptations".

Use

The parts of the mnemonic are:
;Onset of the event
;Provocation or palliation
;Quality of the pain
;Region and radiation
;Severity
;Time