A estas alturas, no te voy a enseñar lo que tienes que preguntar a un paciente.

Este servidor no
es más que un mero traductor, un profesor de inglés cualquiera. Pero sí te puedo enseñar un
par de frases para preguntar más específicamente qué le sucede al paciente.

Vamos a empezar por preguntas abiertas y las vamos a ir cerrando poco a poco. Recuerda, de
lo más general a lo más específico.

Ya hemos visto un par de ejemplos para preguntar qué le pasa al paciente en la primera
unidad.

1. Using exploratory questions

Ahora, vamos a investigar el cómo, cuándo y durante cuánto, dónde, por qué quizá. Hay
muchas características del dolor, del malestar y hay que preguntar por ellas.

Hay estudios que demuestran que los pacientes se sienten más satisfechos con la consulta
cuando se les deja hablar y explicarse con sus propias palabras en vez de hacerle preguntas de
sí o no. Por eso, las primeras preguntas deben ser abiertas. Y después, pasamos a preguntas
más específicas incluso otras para clarificar.

Hay 8 elementos por los que debemos preguntar:

● Location
● Quality / Character
● Quantity / Severity
● Timing (Start & Stop + Frequency + Duration)
● Setting
● Aggravating / Alleviating
● Associated manifestation
● Patient's Feelings

Ibrahim Casanova
[Link]
 2. Let the patients express themselves
Quizá el paciente no sepa expresarse muy bien o no te de toda la información que necesitas,
así que podemos utilizar tres técnicas:

Facilitation, repetition y clarification.

2.1. Facilitar que el paciente hable es tan sencillo como asentir con la cabeza, “hhmm”, "I
understand", "Yeah"

2.2. Repetition, repetir lo que ha dicho el paciente ayuda a dos cosas: Hacerle saber que le
estás escuchando y que estás interesado. Eso anima a seguir hablando.

2.3. Clarificar lo que está diciendo el paciente. Quizá, al escucharlo de vuelta, el paciente
decide cambiar sus palabras porque a lo mejor ha sido muy exagerado o no preciso del todo.

3. Make sure you understood everything perfectly

Clarification nos lleva al tercer paso: vamos a hacer preguntas muy específicas para clarificar,
para cerciorarnos de que hemos entendido todo y que hemos recopilado la información
necesaria.

Aquí es donde entran las tag questions. Estas nos sirven para asegurarnos de que hemos
entendido bien. Las tag questions son:

You have been resting, haven't you? / You have been resting, right?

Se hacen afirmando lo que quieras asegurar y luego preguntando con el verbo en la forma
contraria.

Es lo mismo que cuando en castellano decimos:

Has descansado, ¿no? / Habrás descansado, ¿no? ¿verdad?

Vale. Vamos a ver algunos ejemplos de cómo exploramos el dolor de un paciente en inglés:

Ibrahim Casanova
[Link]
GP: Hello, my name is Dr. Smith and I'll be your GP today. Can you tell me a bit about your
complaint?

Patient: Yes, I've been experiencing a lot of stomach pain and discomfort. It's been causing me
a lot of problems and I'm having difficulty eating and sleeping.

GP: Okay, thank you for sharing that with me. Can you tell me more about the location of the
pain? Is it just in your stomach or is it radiating to other parts of your body?

Patient: It's just in my stomach.

GP: Alright, thanks for letting me know. Now, can you describe the quality or character of the
pain? Is it a sharp or dull pain? Does it feel like a cramping sensation or a stabbing sensation?

Patient: It's a cramping pain.

GP: Okay, thanks for describing that. Can you tell me more about the quantity or severity of the
pain? How intense is it? Does it come in waves or is it constant?

Patient: It comes in waves and it's quite intense.

GP: Alright, thanks for sharing that with me. Now, let's talk about the timing of the pain. When
did the pain start? And, when does it stop, if it does? How often does the pain occur? And, how
long does it last for each time it occurs?

Patient: The pain started about a week ago and it doesn't seem to stop. It occurs about twice a
day and it lasts for about an hour each time it occurs.

GP: Okay, thanks for explaining that. Now, can you tell me about the setting where the pain
occurs? Are you at home, work, or somewhere else when the pain occurs?

Patient: The pain occurs at all times, no matter where I am.

GP: Alright, thanks for letting me know. Now, can you tell me what makes the pain worse or
better? Are there any activities or positions that exacerbate the pain or alleviate it?

Patient: Eating and drinking make the pain worse, while resting and taking over-the-counter
pain medication seem to alleviate it slightly.

GP: Alright, thanks for explaining that. Now, are there any other associated manifestation of
the pain? Do you experience any other symptoms, such as nausea or vomiting, along with the
pain?

Patient: Yes, I've been experiencing a lot of nausea and vomiting along with the stomach pain.

GP: Alright, thanks for letting me know. Finally, how do you feel about the pain? Does it affect
your daily activities or your mood?

Ibrahim Casanova
[Link]
Patient: It's been difficult to do my usual activities and it's been affecting my mood. I'm feeling
quite frustrated and helpless.

GP: Alright, thanks for sharing all of this information with me. I just want to make sure I
understand everything properly. You've been experiencing cramping pain in your stomach,
which has been causing you a lot of discomfort and difficulty with eating and sleeping. The pain
comes in waves and is quite intense, starting about a week ago and not seeming to stop. It
occurs about twice a day and lasts for about an hour each time. The pain occurs at all times, no
matter where you are, and is exacerbated by eating and drinking, but slightly alleviated by
resting and taking over-the-counter pain medication. You've also been experiencing a lot of
nausea and vomiting along with the stomach pain. The pain has been affecting your daily
activities and your mood, causing you to feel frustrated and helpless. Is that all correct?

Patient: Yes, that's correct.

GP: Alright, thanks for confirming that. Based on this information, I'll perform a thorough
examination and run some tests to try and determine the cause of the pain. Is there anything
else you'd like to ask or discuss before we get started?

Patient: No, that's all.

GP: Alright, well let's get started then.

Ibrahim Casanova
[Link]
Physiotherapist: Hi, my name is Sarah and I'll be your physiotherapist today. Can you tell me a
bit about your injury and the pain you're experiencing?

Patient: Yes, I fell off my bike and hurt my ankle. It's been swelling up and it's been difficult to
walk on. The pain is about a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10 and it occurs all the time.

Physiotherapist: Okay, thank you for sharing that with me. Can you tell me more about the
location of the pain? Where do you feel it the most?

Patient: I feel the pain the most in my ankle and the surrounding area.

Physiotherapist: Okay, thanks for letting me know. Now, can you describe the quality or
character of the pain? Is it a sharp or dull pain? Does it feel like a stabbing sensation or a
throbbing sensation?

Patient: It's a sharp pain, like a stabbing sensation.

Physiotherapist: Okay, thanks for describing that. Can you tell me more about the quantity or
severity of the pain? How intense is it? Does it come in waves or is it constant?

Patient: It's constant and quite intense.

Physiotherapist: Alright, thanks for sharing that with me. Now, let's talk about the timing of the
pain. When did the pain start? And, when does it stop, if it does? How often does the pain
occur? And, how long does it last for each time it occurs?

Patient: The pain started yesterday and it doesn't seem to stop. It occurs all the time and it
lasts for about an hour each time it occurs.

Physiotherapist: Okay, thanks for explaining that. Now, can you tell me about the setting where
the pain occurs? Are you at home, work, or somewhere else when the pain occurs?

Patient: The pain occurs at all times, no matter where I am.

Physiotherapist: Okay, thanks for letting me know. Now, can you tell me what makes the pain
worse or better? Are there any activities or positions that exacerbate the pain or alleviate it?

Patient: Walking and standing make the pain worse, while sitting and resting seem to alleviate
it slightly.

Physiotherapist: Alright, thanks for explaining that. Now, are there any other associated
manifestation of the pain? Do you experience any other symptoms, such as nausea or
dizziness, along with the pain?

Patient: No, just the pain in my ankle.

Physiotherapist: Alright, thanks for letting me know. Finally, how do you feel about the pain?
Does it affect your daily activities or your mood?

Ibrahim Casanova
[Link]
Patient: It's been difficult to do my usual activities and it's been affecting my mood. I'm feeling
quite frustrated and helpless.

Physiotherapist: Alright, thanks for sharing all of this information with me. I just want to make
sure I understand everything properly. You fell off your bike and hurt your ankle, which has
been causing you a sharp, stabbing pain at a level of 7 on the pain scale. The pain occurs
constantly and is felt most in your ankle and the surrounding area. It started yesterday and
doesn't seem to stop, occurring all the time and lasting for about an hour each time. The pain
occurs at all times, no matter where you are, and is exacerbated by walking and standing, but
slightly alleviated by sitting and resting. You haven't experienced any other symptoms, such as
nausea or dizziness, along with the pain. The pain has been affecting your daily activities and
your mood, causing you to feel frustrated and helpless. Is that all correct?

Patient: Yes, that's correct.

Physiotherapist: Alright, thanks for confirming that. Based on this information, I'll develop a
treatment plan for you and we'll start working on your injury today. Is there anything else you'd
like to ask or discuss before we get started?

Patient: No, that's all.

Physiotherapist: Alright, well let's get started then.

Ibrahim Casanova
[Link]
Dentist: Hello, my name is Dr. Johnson and I'll be your dentist today. Can you tell me a bit about
your complaint?

Patient: Yes, I've been experiencing a lot of pain in my left molar. It's been causing me a lot of
discomfort and I'm having difficulty eating and sleeping.

Dentist: Okay, thank you for sharing that with me. Can you tell me more about the location of
the pain? Is it just in your left molar or is it radiating to other parts of your mouth or face?

Patient: It's just in my left molar.

Dentist: Alright, thanks for letting me know. Now, can you describe the quality or character of
the pain? Is it a sharp or dull pain? Does it feel like a throbbing sensation or a stabbing
sensation?

Patient: It's a throbbing pain.

Dentist: Okay, thanks for describing that. Can you tell me more about the quantity or severity
of the pain? How intense is it? Does it come in waves or is it constant?

Patient: It's constant and quite intense.

Dentist: Alright, thanks for sharing that with me. Now, let's talk about the timing of the pain.
When did the pain start? And, when does it stop, if it does? How often does the pain occur?
And, how long does it last for each time it occurs?

Patient: The pain started about a week ago and it doesn't seem to stop. It occurs all the time
and it lasts for about an hour each time it occurs.

Dentist: Okay, thanks for explaining that. Now, can you tell me about the setting where the pain
occurs? Are you at home, work, or somewhere else when the pain occurs?

Patient: The pain occurs at all times, no matter where I am.

Dentist: Alright, thanks for letting me know. Now, can you tell me what makes the pain worse
or better? Are there any activities or positions that exacerbate the pain or alleviate it?

Patient: Eating and drinking make the pain worse, while resting seems to alleviate it slightly.

Dentist: Alright, thanks for explaining that. Now, are there any other associated manifestation
of the pain? Do you experience any other symptoms, such as nausea or dizziness, along with
the pain?

Patient: No, just the pain in my left molar.

Dentist: Alright, thanks for letting me know. Finally, how do you feel about the pain? Does it
affect your daily activities or your mood?

Ibrahim Casanova
[Link]
Patient: It's been difficult to do my usual activities and it's been affecting my mood. I'm feeling
quite frustrated and helpless.

Dentist: Alright, thanks for sharing all of this information with me. I just want to make sure I
understand everything properly. You've been experiencing a throbbing pain in your left molar,
which has been causing you a lot of discomfort and difficulty with eating and sleeping. The pain
is constant and quite intense, starting about a week ago and not seeming to stop. It occurs all
the time and lasts for about an hour each time. The pain occurs at all times, no matter where
you are, and is exacerbated by eating and drinking, but slightly alleviated by resting. You
haven't experienced any other symptoms, such as nausea or dizziness, along with the pain. The
pain has been affecting your daily activities and your mood, causing you to feel frustrated and
helpless. Is that all correct?

Patient: Yes, that's correct.

Dentist: Alright, thanks for confirming that. Based on this information, I'll perform a thorough
examination of your mouth and teeth to try and determine the cause of the pain. Is there
anything else you'd like to ask or discuss before we get started?

Patient: No, that's all.

Dentist: Alright, well let's get started then.

Ibrahim Casanova
[Link]