OSLA is a brief observational measure of level of arousal. Abnormal arousal can support delirium assessment, but it is not synonymous with delirium and requires clinical interpretation.
At a glance
Purpose
Domain-specific or adjunctive measure
Population
Adult
Setting
Perioperative, General / acute hospital
Time
<1 min
Items
4
Format: A brief four-observation measure of level of arousal, usually completed at the bedside in under one minute. It provides adjunctive information for delirium assessment rather than a delirium screen or diagnosis.
Other forms of validation are described in the evidence section. What is counted?
Large-scale clinical implementation
None identified in the scoped review.
None identified in the selected profile sources and the Penfold general-hospital review. This is not a completed search of all settings or later papers.
Training and instructions
Public training resources have not yet been confirmed in this review. Check the linked developer or original source for instructions.
Start here
Tool and original sources
This record describes a method rather than a downloadable bedside form. The main source is linked below.
Original paper
Original paperTieges Z, McGrath A, Hall RJ, Maclullich AM. Abnormal level of arousal as a predictor of delirium and inattention: an exploratory study. The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. 2013;21(12):1244-53. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2013.05.003. PMID: 24080383.
This is the original published source for OSLA. It is the main source for the method, its intended use and the evidence available at publication.
A tool may belong to more than one category. Select a linked category to see other relevant profiles.
Evidence
Diagnostic-accuracy evidenceNo eligible DTA study identified
Reported sensitivity and specificity
87%
Sensitivity
81%
Specificity
Exploratory study, n=30 hip-fracture patients.
More evidence and citation details
Full name
Observational Scale of Level of Arousal
Also known as
OSLA
Evidence summary
single
Citation
Tieges Z, McGrath A, Hall RJ, MacLullich AMJ. Abnormal level of arousal as a predictor of delirium and inattention: an exploratory study. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2013;21(12):1244-53. PMID 24080383
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.
No eligible diagnostic-accuracy paper is currently included in this audit. This does not mean the tool has never been validated. The source paper and other evidence on this profile may concern severity, reliability or another measurement purpose.