Table 1 Overview of psychometric properties of the NEECHAM Confusion Scale

Champagne et al. [26]

n = 35 (21 hospitalized and 14 nursing home patients) age ≥ 69 years

Internal consistency = 0.85

Interrater reliability = 0.96

Test-retest reliability = 0.98

Concurrent:

Correlation with MMSE = 0.81

Construct:

Factor analysis revealed 2 factors (% of variance explained not given)

Neelon et al. [25]

n = 158 medical patients age ≥ 65 years

At least two of three clinical indicators (MSP¹, MMSE², DSM-III³) = reference criterion; and NEECHAM cut-off = 24/25:

sensitivity: 95%

specificity: 78%

predictive value: 57%

false positive: 17%

false negative: 3%

Neelon et al. [22]

Sample 1:

n = 168 medical patients age ≥ 65 years

Sample 1:

Internal consistency = 0.90

Sample 1:

Concurrent:

* Correlation with MMSE = 0.87

* Correlation with DSM-III-R total score = -0.91

* Correlation with diagnosis of delirium by DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria = -0.70

Construct:

Factor analysis revealed 2 factors (explaining 72% of variance)

Sample 2:

n = 258 medical patients age ≥ 65 years

Sample 2:

Internal consistency = 0.90

Sample 2:

Concurrent:

* Correlation with DSM-III-R total score = -0.86

* Correlation with diagnosis of delirium by DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria = -0.54

Construct:

Factor analysis revealed 2 factors (% of variance explained not given)

Csokasy [27]

n = 19 patients on intensive care unit age ≥ 65 years

Internal consistency = 0.81

Concurrent:

* correlation with oxygen saturation below 91 = 0.93

* correlation with DSM-III-R total score = 0.68

Johansson et al. [28]

n = 73 patients with hip fracture age ≥ 60 years

Before surgery:

Internal consistency = 0.73

After surgery:

Internal consistency = 0.82

Before surgery:

Construct:

Factor analysis revealed 2 factors (explaining 57.4% of variance) and 3 factors (explaining 69% of variance)

After surgery:

Construct:

Factor analysis revealed 2 factors (explaining 61.5% of variance) and 3 factors (explaining 73.6% of variance)