SDS-N: Subjective Delirium Screening Scale by Nurse
2020A four-feature nurse-observation screen developed for adult surgical wards. Its weighted score ranges from 0 to 5, with a published threshold of 2 or more; current evidence is development with internal bootstrap assessment rather than external validation.
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
- Principal sourceKubota K, Suzuki A, Ohde S, Yamada U, Fujitani I, Koitabashi A. Development of a Simple and Practical Delirium Screening Tool for Use in Surgical Wards. The journal of nursing research : JNR. 2020;28(3):e90. doi: 10.1097/jnr.0000000000000366. PMID: 32073481.
This is the principal published source for SDS-N itself. It is the main source for the method, its intended use and the evidence available at publication.
At a glance
- Purpose
- Episodic assessment
- Population
- Adult
- Setting
- General / acute hospital, Perioperative
- Time
- nurse observation; exact completion time not reported
- Items
- 4
- Score or threshold
- Weighted total ≥2 of 5
Format: A four-feature nurse-observation score: disorientation contributes two points, while restlessness, somnolence and hallucination contribute one each. The total is 0-5 and the development study evaluated a threshold of 2 or more.
- Limitations: Development and internal bootstrap evaluation only; sensitivity was modest; reference classification used routine DST or CAM-ICU
Evidence
Reported sensitivity and specificity
AUC 81.9% in 2,168 retrospective surgical-ward patients; internal bootstrap assessment only.
More evidence and citation details
- Full name
- Subjective Delirium Screening Scale by Nurse
- Also known as
- SDS-N, Subjective Delirium Screening Scale
- Evidence summary
- derivation-and-internal-validation
- Diagnostic-accuracy studies
- 1
- Reference standard
- Retrospective routine DST or CAM-ICU documentation rather than prospective independent DSM assessment
- Citation
- Kubota K, Suzuki A, Ohde S, Yamada U, Fujitani I, Koitabashi A Development of a Simple and Practical Delirium Screening Tool for Use in Surgical Wards The journal of nursing research : JNR. 2020;28(3):e90. PMID 32073481
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.