No. AWOL is a risk prediction tool for developing delirium during hospitalisation; it should be applied at admission before delirium onset. If a patient is already delirious on admission, focus on diagnosis (CAM/4AT) and management rather than risk prediction.

Disorientation is defined as inability to correctly state the day of the week, the date, or the year. One or more errors qualifies. Use a standardised question such as 'What is today's date?' or 'What year is it?' and record the response.

In settings where APACHE II is not routinely calculated, proxy indicators of high severity can be used: high nursing dependency, requirement for close monitoring, or clinician judgement of significant acute illness. Standardise the proxy criterion locally to ensure consistent scoring.

AWOL was validated in hospitalised adults and is most applicable in inpatient settings where delirium incidence is highest. For community risk stratification, other frailty and cognitive screening tools may be more appropriate.

CAM is a diagnostic tool for current delirium; AWOL is a predictive risk tool for future delirium. They serve different functions and should ideally both be used: AWOL at admission for prevention targeting, and CAM (or DTS + bCAM) for ongoing delirium detection.