SOCRATES Pain History Reference Card

Take a complete pain history, every time.

A two-sided card covering the full SOCRATES framework with clear prompts for each element — so you can take a structured, thorough pain history without missing the details that matter.

What's on the card

Front — the SOCRATES framework with prompts for each component:

• Site, Onset, Character (heavy, dull, sharp, tearing, burning)
• Radiation (neck, arm, jaw, shoulder, abdomen)
• Associated symptoms, Timing, Exacerbating/relieving factors
• Severity on a 0–10 scale

Reverse — pain severity scale and guidance:

• No pain (0), mild (1–3), moderate (4–6), severe (7–10)
• Suitable for adults and paediatrics over 8 years, or patients who struggle with number or visual scales
• Guidance on descriptor selection, documentation and reassessment

Details

• Size: 86 × 54 mm (credit-card sized)
• Two-sided, fully laminated for durability
• Elongated slot for lanyards, badge reels or ID holders

Who it's for

Student paramedics, paramedics and nurses learning structured pain history taking — for study, revision and reference.

For educational and reference use only.