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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.

At a glance

Purpose
Domain-specific or adjunctive measure
Population
Adult
Setting
General / acute hospital
Time
~5 min
Parts
2: narrative appraisal and visual analogue rating
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.

Primary validation papers

1 identified diagnostic-accuracy paper

Other forms of validation are described in the evidence section. What is counted?

Large-scale clinical implementation

Not yet reviewed.

A focused implementation review has not yet been completed for this profile.

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

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
Classification

Classification

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

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

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 evaluations
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
Download RIS ↗ Download BibTeX ↗

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
  1. Cacchione PZ (2002). Four acute confusion assessment instruments: reliability and validity for use in long-term care facilities. Journal of gerontological nursing.

    Reference category: other comparator or secondary accuracy evidence.

Copyright and reuse
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.