Care Conversations 7 — Talking to Patients About Pain AE

The language of pain assessment — asking the right questions, listening carefully, and reporting accurately to the clinical team.

Pain assessment in care settings

Pain is often underreported in care settings, particularly among residents with communication difficulties. Asking the right questions — and listening to both verbal and non-verbal responses — is a core care skill. This exercise practises the language of pain assessment conversations, from the initial question to the escalation report.

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Choose the most natural-sounding response. LEVEL: Intermediate

1. Are you in any pain right now?
2. On a scale of one to ten, how bad is the pain?
3. It's a sharp pain in my chest.
4. The pain comes and goes.
5. It hurts when I move my leg.
6. I've had this pain for three days.
7. My pain medication isn't working.
8. I don't want to make a fuss.
9. Where exactly is the pain?
10. It hurts most at night.
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