What screening tool should be used when a patient complains of a headache?

• A. Blood pressure
• B. Glucose check
• C. Oximetry
• D. Pain scale

Answer: (D)

Assessing how much pain a patient feels is essential when a headache is reported. A pain scale provides a quick, standardized way to quantify that subjective experience, making it the best screening tool for this symptom. By assigning a number or category to pain, clinicians can gauge severity, track changes over time, and judge how well treatments are working or whether urgent investigation is needed.

While blood pressure, glucose, and oxygen saturation can reveal conditions that might contribute to headaches or indicate emergencies, they do not measure headache intensity. They’re important parts of a broader assessment but not substitutes for a direct pain measure. Common formats include a numeric rating scale from 0 to 10 and observational scales for patients who can’t communicate, allowing consistent documentation across visits.