During a patient interview, you observe grimacing and holding the abdomen as they try to change position. Which question is least appropriate?

• A. What caused your pain?
• B. Where is the pain located?
• C. Why are you making that face?
• D. Does the pain worsen with movement?

Answer: (C)

In an EMS interview for abdominal pain, focus on gathering actionable pain history while acknowledging the patient’s nonverbal cues without judging them. The least appropriate question is asking why you are making that face. That line of questioning can come across as blaming or dismissive and doesn’t help you learn about the patient’s symptoms or how to manage them. It shifts attention to appearance rather than the clinical information you need.

More appropriate questions probe the nature of the pain: asking where it is located helps localize potential causes, asking what may have caused the pain provides clues about the mechanism and onset, and asking whether the pain worsens with movement helps identify potential peritoneal irritation or a surgical abdomen, which influences triage and treatment decisions. In practice you can use a structured pain interview framework to ensure you cover onset, provocation, quality, region, intensity, and timing, while responding to the patient’s pain cues with clear, respectful questions.