Clinical utility and validation of two instruments (the Confusion Assessment Method Algorithm and the Chinese version of Nursing Delirium Screening Scale) to detect delirium in geriatric inpatients.

Objective: There is no valid instrument to aid delirium detection in Hong Kong. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the Confusion Assessment Method Diagnostic Algorithm (CAM algorithm) and the bilingual version of Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (Nu-DESC) among geriatric inpatients in a Chinese population.

Methods: Between January and March 2007, 100 newly admitted geriatric patients were assessed by physician and bedside nurses, using the CAM algorithm and bilingual version of Nu-DESC, respectively.