Region/radiation in the PQRST pain assessment refers to?

• A. The duration of pain
• B. The location of pain and whether it spreads
• C. The intensity of pain
• D. The onset of pain

Answer: (B)

Region and radiation focus on where the pain is located and whether it travels to other areas. This part of the PQRST assessment helps you recognize patterns that point to different underlying causes. For example, cardiac-related pain is often felt behind the sternum and may radiate to the left arm, shoulder, or jaw, while certain abdominal or nerve-related pains radiate along a pathway to other regions of the body.

To assess this, ask the patient to indicate or point to the exact location of the pain and then ask if and where it spreads or radiates. Noting the distribution and any radiation helps distinguish local pain from referred or radicular pain, guiding the clinician toward appropriate management and differential diagnosis. This aspect is separate from onset (when it started), duration (how long it lasts), or intensity (how severe it is).