Which of the following lists the five pain characteristics?

• A. Intensity; Duration; Distribution; Character; Aggravating and Easing Factors
• B. Intensity; Duration; Distribution; Character
• C. Location; Duration; Quality; Provocation
• D. Severity; Timing; Pattern; Relief; Onset

Answer: (A)

In pain assessment, you want a complete description using five dimensions: how intense the pain is, how long it lasts, where it is or how it spreads (distribution), what the pain feels like (character or quality), and what makes it worse or better (aggravating and easing factors). The correct option includes all five: intensity, duration, distribution, character, and aggravating/easing factors. The other options omit one of these dimensions or replace them with terms that don’t match the standard five characteristics, such as using onset, timing, or pattern instead of the full set, or leaving out factors that worsen or relieve the pain.