History taking

OLD CARTS

Onset, Location, Duration, Characteristics, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Treatment, Severity

A longer alternative to OPQRST covering the same ground plus what the patient has already tried. Programs tend to teach one or the other, so students often meet both.

What each letter stands for

  1. 1 Onset.
  2. 2 Location.
  3. 3 Duration.
  4. 4 Characteristics.
  5. 5 Aggravating factors.
  6. 6 Relieving factors.
  7. 7 Treatment already tried.
  8. 8 Severity.

How it gets tested

The T is what separates this from OPQRST — it captures self-treatment before presentation, which the shorter mnemonic has no slot for.

Related terms

OPQRSTCOLDSPASAMPLE

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