International Journal of Nursing Studies May 2026 Development of a short version of the Delirium Observation Screening Scale (s-DOSS): A psychometric validation study

This research details the creation and testing of a streamlined screening tool designed to identify delirium more efficiently in a hospital setting. By removing redundant or less effective questions from the original assessment, researchers developed a nine-item version that significantly decreases the workload for healthcare providers without sacrificing precision. The study demonstrates that this shorter scale maintains high diagnostic accuracy, effectively matching the performance of more complex methods. Ultimately, this refined approach aims to facilitate earlier medical intervention, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing the overall strain on the healthcare system.