A falls risk-assessment tool in an elderly care environment

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Falls represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population.
• Inpatient fall prevention strategies are crucial for improving patient outcomes.
• Risk-assessment tools are proposed as a method for managing falls in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a newly developed risk-assessment tool and care plan for inpatient falls.
• To identify characteristics of patients who experience falls in an inpatient setting.
• To assess the implementation consistency of fall prevention interventions.

Main Methods:

• A two-stage study involving retrospective analysis of fall incidents and prospective evaluation of a risk-assessment tool.
• Stage one: Retrospective review of 'falls incident forms' and nursing notes to compare fallers and non-fallers.
• Stage two: Prospective implementation and evaluation of a risk-assessment tool and care plan by healthcare staff.

Main Results:

• Retrospective analysis revealed poor falls incidence reporting and a higher prevalence of previous falls in patients who fell.
• Staff found the risk-assessment tool and care plan user-friendly during prospective evaluation.
• Inconsistent documentation and variable implementation of individualized, risk-based interventions were observed.

Conclusions:

• While risk-assessment tools are perceived as easy to use, their effectiveness is limited by inconsistent application of recommended interventions.
• Improved falls incidence reporting and a focus on previous fall history are important considerations.
• A multidisciplinary approach is necessary for effective falls management in hospitals.