[Falls of patients in hospital: testing of a notification system and statistical monitoring]

Falls of hospitalised people and resulting injuries are an important event, particularly in elderly people, since they can be cause of morbidity, disability and mortality. Frequently, fall result in deterioration of quality of life, reduction of personal autonomy and lengthening of stay in hospital. Literature reported one fall in the year in about one third of over 65 years old people; in 25% of old people admitted to hospital; in 43% of total guests in RSA (Ungar et al., 2004, Rubenstein et al., 2002).

We report data relative to experimental introduction of a new notification system and statistical monitoring, made by the Nursing Directorate of Niguarda Hospital in Milan, in the 8 wards that have recorded the highest number of falls in 2006 and 2007. The reports received (n = 119) made possible to assess the functionality of the system designed with the specific nature of the data collected. Falls of patients with minimal or absent risk factors for falls at the admission (50%) have been analyzed. The relationship of falls with age of patients, drugs assumption and nursing needs have been evaluated.

75% of fallen patients were over 68 years old. Taking a single or a combination of drugs considered as dangerous for falls was a recurring data. The most common modality of falls was to get out of bed. 30% of patients involved presented some nursing care needs (moving and personal hygiene). These needs were not particularly limiting their autonomy, but a nursing support and supervision had been in any case planned.

Over 68 years old patients, taking drugs dangerous for falls and presenting nursing care needs should be strictly look after by nurses while the mobilization.