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CAC-B: Clinical Assessment of Confusion-B

1992

A 58-item nursing assessment of confusion comprising one screening item and seven behavioural and functional subscales. The original 1992 source established content and reliability properties, not criterion validity for delirium.

Classification

Classification

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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

  • Source bookFunk SG, ed.. Key Aspects of Elder Care: Managing Falls, Incontinence, and Cognitive Impairment. Springer Publishing Company. 1992.

    This is the principal published source for CAC-B itself. It is the main source for the method, its intended use and the evidence available at publication.

One DTA study identifiedVersion or adaptation

At a glance

Purpose
Episodic assessment
Population
Adult
Setting
General / acute hospital, Long-term / care home
Time
~10 min
Items
58
Score or threshold
Study-defined CAC-B cutoff; exact cutoff pending

Format: CAC-B contains 58 ratings organised as one screening item and seven subscales spanning cognition, behaviour, motor and sensory function, orientation, safety, psychiatric behaviour, and interaction or daily function. Ratings reflect severity and persistence over observation, typically taking about ten minutes.

Evidence

Evidence maturityOne DTA study identified

Reported sensitivity and specificity

Headline metric source

Later validation or evaluation · 2002 — pmid:11829220

Denominator
Reported source unit: 74 (analysis unit not fully reconciled)
Reference standard
DSM-IV criteria for delirium
89.7%
Sensitivity
76.1%
Specificity

Earliest DTA evaluation identified in the current audit; see the linked source and methodological caveats.

More evidence and citation details
Full name
Clinical Assessment of Confusion-B
Also known as
CAC-B, Clinical Assessment of Confusion B
Related profiles
CAC-A
Evidence summary
single-DTA
Diagnostic-accuracy studies
1
Reference standard
DSM-IV criteria for delirium
Citation
Funk SG, ed. Key Aspects of Elder Care: Managing Falls, Incontinence, and Cognitive Impairment Springer Publishing Company. 1992;.
Copyright and reuse
Information checked
2026-07-19

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

Sources checked 2026-07-29. How profiles are prepared.