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How to take an HPI in Spanish: OPQRST pain questions
The history of present illness starts with the symptom, and for pain the usual frame is OPQRST. Here are the questions in Spanish, the words patients use to describe pain, and a short practice dialogue. Lessons with Become Fluent are private, one-on-one and online, built around your role and level.
OPQRST questions in Spanish
| Letter | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| O · Onset | ¿Cuándo empezó el dolor? ¿Empezó de repente o poco a poco? | When did the pain start? Did it start suddenly or gradually? |
| P · Provocation and palliation | ¿Qué lo mejora o lo empeora? ¿Le duele más al respirar o al moverse? | What makes it better or worse? Does it hurt more when you breathe or move? |
| Q · Quality | ¿Cómo es el dolor? ¿Es una punzada, un ardor, una presión o un cólico? | What is the pain like? A stab, a burning, a pressure or a cramp? |
| R · Region and radiation | ¿Dónde le duele? ¿El dolor se va a otra parte, como el brazo o la espalda? | Where does it hurt? Does the pain spread elsewhere, such as your arm or back? |
| S · Severity | En una escala del 0 al 10, ¿cuánto le duele? El 0 es nada de dolor y el 10 es el peor dolor que puede imaginar. | On a scale of 0 to 10, how much does it hurt? 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine. |
| T · Timing | ¿Es constante o va y viene? ¿Cuánto dura cada episodio? | Is it constant or does it come and go? How long does each episode last? |
Words patients use for pain
Patients rarely say "sharp" or "dull" the way a textbook does. Offer the options in your question, as in the table above, and listen for these words. Their use varies by country and region.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| punzada | stabbing or sharp pain |
| ardor | burning |
| presión / opresión | pressure, tightness |
| cólico | cramping pain |
| pulsante / late | throbbing |
| sordo | dull ache |
Sample dialogue: chest pain
| Speaker | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Physician | Buenas tardes. Cuénteme, ¿qué le pasa hoy? | Good afternoon. Tell me, what is the matter today? |
| Patient | Me duele el pecho desde esta mañana. | My chest has hurt since this morning. |
| Physician | ¿Cómo es el dolor? ¿Es una punzada o una presión? | What is the pain like? A stab or a pressure? |
| Patient | Es como una presión, aquí en el centro. | It is like a pressure, here in the middle. |
| Physician | ¿Se le va a otra parte, al brazo o a la mandíbula? | Does it spread anywhere, to your arm or jaw? |
| Patient | Sí, un poco al brazo izquierdo. | Yes, a little to the left arm. |
| Physician | En una escala del 0 al 10, ¿cuánto le duele? | On a scale of 0 to 10, how much does it hurt? |
| Patient | Como un 7. | About a 7. |
Where to draw the line
Knowing the questions is the easy part. The harder skill is understanding the answers in fast, real speech and knowing when to call a qualified interpreter, for example for consent and complex care. Your hospital's language-access policy comes first. These lessons are language training, not an interpreter qualification.
Frequently asked questions
What does OPQRST stand for?
OPQRST is a memory aid for assessing pain: onset, provocation and palliation, quality, region and radiation, severity, and timing.
How do you ask about pain severity in Spanish?
Ask: En una escala del 0 al 10, ¿cuánto le duele? Explain that 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain the patient can imagine.
Can I use this instead of an interpreter?
No. Use your hospital's language-access policy. Interpreters are needed for consent and complex care. This guide is for language practice.
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