Timing in PQRST pertains to?

• A. The location of pain
• B. The intensity
• C. When the pain started and how it has changed over time
• D. The quality

Answer: (C)

Timing in the PQRST approach refers to when the pain began and how it has changed over time—including onset, duration, frequency, and the pattern of the pain. This helps you understand the trajectory of the pain, whether it’s new or ongoing, and whether it’s improving, worsening, or staying the same, which is essential for deciding urgency and evaluating treatment response.

Location is where the pain occurs, intensity is how strong it is, and quality describes what the pain feels like (e.g., sharp, dull, burning). These other aspects provide different pieces of the overall picture but Timing specifically captures the temporal course of the pain.