Ontario Paramedic Practice Exam

What assessment tool is used to evaluate chest pain?

1. ABC's of assessment

2. AIRWAY protocol

3. OPQRST

4. FAST assessment

The correct answer is: OPQRST

The OPQRST mnemonic is a widely recognized tool used specifically to evaluate the characteristics of chest pain in patients. Each letter represents a different aspect of the patient's experience and helps paramedics gather crucial information for diagnosis and treatment. - "O" stands for Onset, addressing when the chest pain began and what the patient was doing at the time. - "P" represents Provocation or palliation, which involves asking whether anything makes the pain better or worse. - "Q" signifies Quality, prompting the patient to describe the pain, such as whether it is sharp, dull, or crushing. - "R" indicates Radiation, asking if the pain spreads to other areas, like the arm, jaw, or back. - "S" is the Severity, where the patient rates their pain on a scale, often from 0 to 10. - "T" stands for Time, which refers to how long the pain has been present. Using OPQRST allows paramedics to gather specific and relevant information that can drive their decisions regarding treatment and transport, especially in cases that could involve conditions like myocardial infarction or angina. The other assessment tools mentioned do not specifically target chest pain evaluation. For instance, the ABC's of assessment focus on the primary