SCRODTEAS-PT

Of all the history items, the presenting complaint will always be there. While SOCRATES, and this variation apply to pain items 4-10 apply to almost all conditions, not just pain. In other words, this is the core of a presenting complaint history.

Presenting Complaint (HPC)

1. Site: Where in the body are the symptom(s) experienced?
2. Character: Description of the primary symptom(s) or reason for seeking medical care.
3. Radiation: Whether the symptom(s) spread to other areas.
   
   
4. Onset: When the symptom(s) began or were first noticed.
5. Duration: How long the symptom(s) have been present.
6. Temporal Pattern: Any pattern or timing to the symptom(s), such as nocturnal or postprandial.
   • Did anything happen just before <problem> started?
     
     
7. Exacerbating/Relieving Factors: What makes the symptom(s) better or worse.
8. Associated Symptoms: Other symptoms that accompany the main complaint.
9. Severity: The severity of the symptom(s), often quantified (e.g., on a scale of 1-10).
   • How has this <problem> impacted your life?
     
     
10. Patient Thinks: What does the patient think is going on?
    • With Google, patients can have both accurate and crazy ideas!!!
    • ICE – Ideas, Concerns and Expectations

I find it useful to think of this as 3 groups + 1

1. S -Where is the pain? (Site)
2. C – What is it like? (Character)
3. R – Does it go anywhere? (Radiation)
   
   
4. O – When did it start? (Onset)
5. D – How long has it been going for? (Duration)
6. T – Does it have better and worse bits? (Temporal/Time Intensity)
   • Did anything change just before <problem> started?
     
     
7. E – Does anything make it better? Worse? (Exacerbating/Relieving)
8. A – Is anything else going on with it? (Associated)
9. S – How bad is it out of 10 where 10 is the worst pain ever (Severity)
   • How has this <problem> impacted your life? (Severity for non-pain or chronic pain)
     
     
10. PT – What do you think is going on? (The first ICE question)