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BCS: Bedside Confusion Scale

2000

A 2-minute screen combining an observation of level of consciousness with a timed attention task, developed for the palliative-medicine population.

At a glance

Purpose
Episodic assessment
Population
Adult
Setting
Palliative care
Time
~2 min
Components
2
Score or threshold
Original description: 0 normal, 1 borderline, ≥2 abnormal. The threshold used for an accuracy estimate must be specified.

Format: Usually presented as a very short two-part bedside record. It combines an observed level-of-consciousness rating with a timed attention task, followed by a small result and interpretation area.

CAM usually means the four-feature short form; the long form has ten items. Check which form and supporting assessment the study used. Short and long CAM explained.

Primary validation papers

1 identified diagnostic-accuracy paper

Other forms of validation are described in the evidence section. What is counted?

Large-scale clinical implementation

Not yet reviewed.

A focused implementation review has not yet been completed for this profile.

Training and instructions

Public training resources have not yet been confirmed in this review. Check the linked developer or original source for instructions.

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Tool and original sources

This record describes a method rather than a downloadable bedside form. The main source is linked below.

Original paper

  • Original paperStillman MJ, Rybicki LA. The bedside confusion scale: development of a portable bedside test for confusion and its application to the palliative medicine population. Journal of palliative medicine. 2000;3(4):449-56. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2000.3.4.449. PMID: 15859697.

    This is the original published source for BCS. It is the main source for the method, its intended use and the evidence available at publication.

    Open PubMed ↗
One DTA study identifiedCore instrument family
Classification

Classification

Episodic assessment

A tool may belong to more than one category. Select a linked category to see other relevant profiles.

Evidence

Diagnostic-accuracy evidenceOne DTA study identified

Reported sensitivity and specificity

Headline metric source

Original/source study · 2000; pmid:15859697

Denominator
Reported source unit: 31 (analysis unit not fully reconciled)
Reference standard
Confusion Assessment Method (CAM), reported as the original study comparator
100%
Sensitivity
;
Specificity

Vs CAM (n=31); small single-centre palliative sample.

More evidence and citation details
Full name
Bedside Confusion Scale
Also known as
BCS
Evidence summary
single
Diagnostic-accuracy evaluations
1
Reference standard
Confusion Assessment Method (CAM), reported as the original study comparator
Citation
Stillman MJ, Rybicki LA The bedside confusion scale: development of a portable bedside test for confusion and its application to the palliative medicine population Journal of palliative medicine. 2000;3(4):449-56. PMID 15859697
Download RIS ↗ Download BibTeX ↗

Primary validation studies

Distinct primary publications from the current diagnostic-accuracy audit. Reviews and repeated evaluations within one paper are not counted again. Overlapping cohorts have not all been reconciled. Read the counting rules and limitations.

Open 1 identified paper
  1. Stillman MJ, Rybicki LA (2000). The bedside confusion scale: development of a portable bedside test for confusion and its application to the palliative medicine population. Journal of palliative medicine.

    Reference category: other comparator or secondary accuracy evidence.

Copyright and reuse
Information checked
2026-07-19

Instrument-specific terms apply. See the access and copyright policy or send a correction.

Base clinical review: 2026-07-29. Instrument description source check: 2026-09-05. Scope and limitations.