s-DOSS: Short Delirium Observation Screening Scale

2026

A nine-item short form of the Delirium Observation Screening Scale, derived to reduce nursing workload while retaining the parent scale's observational purpose.

At a glance

Purpose: Episodic assessment
Population: Adult
Setting: General / acute hospital
Time: shorter than the 13-item DOSS; exact bedside time not reported
Items: 9
Score or threshold: Total score of 2 or more

Format: The s-DOSS contains nine nursing observations selected from the 13-item DOSS. The published threshold is 2 or more; an exact administration-time estimate was not reported in the source available to this review.

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.

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

No direct copy is linked here. The original paper and a Google Images search are available below. Image results may be unofficial; check the version and source before use.

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Original paper

Original paperMilisen K, Zeng S, Bruynseraede E, Ceusters A, Verbeke G, Yang K, et al. Development of a short version of the Delirium Observation Screening Scale (s-DOSS): A psychometric validation study. International journal of nursing studies. 2026;177:105362. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2026.105362. PMID: 41619456.
This paper reports the development and initial validation of s-DOSS. It reported sensitivity of 90.9% and specificity of 92.2% against CAM.
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One DTA study identifiedVersion or adaptation

Classification

Episodic assessment Monitoring for new onset delirium

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 · 2026; pmid:41619456

Denominator: Reported source unit: 113 (analysis unit not fully reconciled)
Reference standard: CAM

90.9%

Sensitivity

92.2%

Specificity

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

More evidence and citation details

Full name: Short Delirium Observation Screening Scale
Also known as: s-DOSS, short DOSS, 9-item DOSS
Related profiles: DOSS
Evidence summary: single-DTA
Diagnostic-accuracy evaluations: 1
Reference standard: CAM
Citation: Milisen K, Zeng S, Bruynseraede E, Ceusters A, Verbeke G, Yang K, Rex S, Schuurmans M, Detroyer E Development of a short version of the Delirium Observation Screening Scale (s-DOSS): A psychometric validation study International journal of nursing studies. 2026;177:105362. PMID 41619456

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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

Milisen K, Zeng S, Bruynseraede E, Ceusters A, Verbeke G, Yang K, Rex S, Schuurmans M, Detroyer E (2026). Development of a short version of the Delirium Observation Screening Scale (s-DOSS): A psychometric validation study. International journal of nursing studies.
Reference category: other comparator or secondary accuracy evidence.

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.

s-DOSS: Short Delirium Observation Screening Scale

At a glance

Primary validation papers

Large-scale clinical implementation