History
Mnemonic to Remember the 7 Attributes of a Symptom
"L-Q-Q-T-O-R-A"
L: Location
Q: Quality
Q: Quantity/Severity
T: Timing
O: Onset (Setting)
R: Remitting or Exacerbating Factors
A: Associated Manifestations
Short Script for Patient Interview
1. Introduction
o"Hi Sarah, I'm here to learn more about what you're experiencing so we can address it
effectively."
2. Chief Complaint
o"What brings you in today?"
3. Explore the Seven Attributes
oLocation:
"Where exactly is the discomfort or symptom? Does it stay in one place or spread to
other areas?"
oQuality:
"Can you describe what it feels like? Is it sharp, dull, throbbing, or something else?"
oQuantity/Severity:
"On a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is very mild and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine,
how would you rate it?"
oTiming:
"When did it start? How long does it last? Does it happen at certain times of the day?"
oOnset (Setting):
"What were you doing when this first started? Were there any specific triggers or
situations?"
