VAS-AC: Visual Analogue Scale for Acute Confusion

1986

A nurse-rated acute-confusion measure comprising a short narrative appraisal across eight areas and a 15-cm visual-analogue judgement. It takes about five minutes and measures perceived acute confusion rather than establishing delirium by diagnostic criteria.

Classification

Domain-specific or adjunctive measureMonitoring for new onset delirium Detailed phenomenological and/or neuropsychological assessment

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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.

NIDUS information cards ↗

Original and selected diagnostic-accuracy papers

Original paperNagley SJ. Predicting and preventing confusion in your patients. Journal of gerontological nursing. 1986;12(3):27-31. doi: 10.3928/0098-9134-19860301-09. PMID: 3633943.
This is the original published source for VAS-AC. It is the main source for the method, its intended use and the evidence available at publication.
Open PubMed ↗
Selected diagnostic-accuracy studyCacchione PZ. Four acute confusion assessment instruments: reliability and validity for use in long-term care facilities. Journal of gerontological nursing. 2002;28(1):12-9. doi: 10.3928/0098-9134-20020101-05. PMID: 11829220.
This diagnostic-accuracy study evaluated VAS-AC in two long-term-care facilities against a DSM-IV clinical assessment. It reported sensitivity of 96.6% and specificity of 80.5% in 74 residents from two long-term-care facilities.
Open PubMed ↗

One DTA study identifiedRelated context

At a glance

Purpose: Domain-specific or adjunctive measure
Population: Adult
Setting: General / acute hospital
Time: ~5 min
Items: 2
Score or threshold: Study-defined VAS-AC cutoff; exact cutoff pending

Format: The VAS-AC combines a structured narrative judgement covering eight clinical areas with a mark on a 15-cm continuum. It is a subjective nursing measure of acute confusion, not a one-item sub-minute delirium screen.

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

96.6%

Sensitivity

80.5%

Specificity

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

More evidence and citation details

Full name: Visual Analogue Scale for Acute Confusion
Also known as: VAS-AC, Visual Analog Scale for Acute Confusion, Visual Analogue Scale
Evidence summary: single-DTA
Diagnostic-accuracy studies: 1
Reference standard: DSM-IV criteria for delirium
Citation: Nagley SJ Predicting and Preventing Confusion in Your Patients Journal of Gerontological Nursing. 1986;12(3):27-31. PMID 3633943

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Information checked: 2026-07-19

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