Do orthopaedic and neurosciences inpatients who are at risk of falls have best practice fall prevention strategies implemented during their acute inpatient hospitalization?. (21st November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tse, Cynthia; Esler, Victoria; Hewitt, Lyndel; Davidson, Edward
• Is Part Of: Australasian journal on ageing. Volume 39:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: e410
• Page End: e415
• Publication Date: 2019-11-21
• Subjects: accident prevention -- falls -- hospital -- inpatient -- neurosciences -- orthopedics -- recommendation -- health planning; Older people -- Periodicals; Older people -- Australia -- Periodicals; Old age -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12743
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1440-6381

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To determine whether inpatients identified as being at high risk for falls received fall prevention interventions as recommended in the Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Hospitals. Methods: This cross‐sectional study examined medical record data from a convenience sample of inpatients admitted to orthopaedic and neurosciences wards (N = 100). Data were compared to the fall prevention recommendations. Percentages were used to describe compliance and independent samples t‐tests to assess difference in adherence. Results: Data revealed that 45% and 62% of recommendations were implemented amongst inpatients on orthopaedic and neurosciences ward, respectively ( P < 0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between orthopaedic inpatients at higher risk of falls and those with a greater length of stay [ r (39) = .46, P = 0.003]. When analysed together, patients who were admitted following a fall had a lower percentage of fall prevention strategies implemented ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: Implementation of fall prevention strategies is essential to target in the inpatient setting.