February 2023 updates
The OCS User Manual and Patient Packs A and B were updated due to an omission in initial versions.
Published: April 2022
The OCS-AU tool has been developed for clinicians caring for patients in acute, subacute and community stroke care.
The OCS provides a visual snapshot of a patient’s cognitive profile. It summarises a person's performance across five cognitive domains:
- Language
- Praxis
- Number
- Memory
- Spatial and controlled attention
There are two versions of the tool; versions A and B. These are designed to be used alternately each time a patient is screened.
For further detail about the adaptation process, see our article in the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal.
Licensing requirements
NSW Health holds a statewide licence for the use of the OCS-AU within NSW Health services. Other services wishing to use the OCS or OCS-AU should apply for a licence from Oxford University Innovation.
Resources
User manual
The manual includes instructions on test administration and a scoring reference guide. The same manual is used for versions A and B, as instructions remain the same with different stimuli for some subtests.
Test booklet
There are separate test booklets, for version A and B. Each test booklet requires local updates, annually. Services should print off a copy of each test booklet and laminate them for infection control purposes.
The Word document version is also provided for you to localise the content.
- Test Booklet Version A (Word)
- Test Booklet Version A (PDF)
- Test Booklet Version B (Word)
- Test Booklet Version B (PDF)
Patient pack
A patient pack is required for each participant, each time a test is administered.
The first two pages are for the examiner to score as the participant completes each subtest. The remaining 10 pages are for the participant to complete during the test. The final two pages in the patient pack are for the examiner to transfer the scores to the easy scoring template and visual snapshot report (wheel of cognition).
NB: Each patient pack includes additional NSW State Stream forms. Please remove relevant pages before administering.
Test booklet examiner amendment template
For subtest three on the OCS-AU, the orientation subtest, some local adaptations are required to the test booklets. You will need to amend the orientation questions to the current year (annually) and for your local town or city.
Broken hearts scoring template
The transparent scoring template guide for the broken hearts test will help with scoring. It can be photocopied onto a heat resistant laminate.
- Broken Hearts Acetate Scoring Sheet Version A (PDF)
- Broken Hearts Acetate Scoring Sheet Version B (PDF)
State forms (NSW Health)
The following forms have been developed for local use of the OCS-AU and are available for inclusion in the patient's record.
NSW Health staff should refer to local processes for ordering through Finsbury Green.
| Title | SMR | Product code |
|---|---|---|
| OCS-AU Cognitive Profile | 060924 | NH700782 |
| OCS-AU Patient Pack Version A | 060922 | NH700783 |
| OCS-AU Patient Pack Version B | 060923 | NH700784 |
Education modules
There are five education modules to support the use of the OCS-AU. Modules A and B are introductory modules suitable for all stroke clinicians. Modules C, D and E provide clinicians who screen cognition with the knowledge and skills required for using the OCS-AU. These modules range in duration from five to 25 minutes.
The education modules are available via My Health Learning for NSW Health clinicians.
| Course name | Course ID |
|---|---|
| Module A: Introduction to cognition and cognitive screening after stroke | 396705139 |
| Module B: Introduction to the Oxford Cognitive Screen (OCS) | 396710141 |
| Module C: Administration | 396710795 |
| Module D: Scoring and interpretation | 396711333 |
| Module E: Documenting and reporting the OCS results | 396711653 |
For all other clinicians, the education modules are available at the Stroke Foundation’s InformMe website.
Background
The Oxford Cognitive Screen (OCS) was developed in the United Kingdom (UK). The authors recommend it is adapted for use outside of the UK.
A team of researchers and clinicians from across Australia, led by the Hunter Stroke Service, developed an Australian adaptation of the OCS, using the OCS Translation and Linguistic Validation Process1. This is known as the OCS-AU, and involved developing cut scores based on Australian normative data.
For further detail about the adaptation process, see our article in the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal.
Contact us
References
- Oxford University Innovation. Oxford Cognitive Screen Translation and Linguistic Validation Process. Oxford: Oxford University Innovation Ltd; 2018.