Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Design and Analysis for Fall Detection System Simplification
08:05

Design and Analysis for Fall Detection System Simplification

Published on: April 6, 2020

Pediatric inpatient falls and injuries: a descriptive analysis of risk factors

Patricia L Schaffer1, Nancy M Daraiseh, Lynn Daum

  • 1Research and Evidence-Based Practice, Center for Professional Excellence, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. pat.schaffer@cchmc.org

Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing : JSPN
|December 23, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric falls in hospitals are common, with over half causing injuries. Identifying patient and environmental factors is crucial for effective fall prevention strategies to enhance patient safety.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric healthcare research
  • Patient safety initiatives
  • Injury prevention science

Background:

  • Hospital-acquired falls pose a significant risk to pediatric patients.
  • Understanding contributing factors is essential for developing targeted interventions.
  • Previous research highlights the need for comprehensive safety programs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify patient characteristics associated with falls in a pediatric hospital setting.
  • To determine environmental factors contributing to inpatient pediatric falls.
  • To analyze the incidence and outcomes of falls within a pediatric healthcare facility.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive study design was employed.
  • Data were collected over a 6-month period from reported inpatient pediatric falls.
  • Analysis focused on patient demographics and fall circumstances.

Main Results:

  • The overall fall prevalence was 0.84 per 1,000 patient days.
  • 58.5% of falls resulted in patient injury, with 17% requiring medical treatment.
  • Injured children were often developmentally appropriate (83%), frequently fell in their hospital room (58%), and some fell from beds (five instances).

Conclusions:

  • Comprehensive fall prevention programs are necessary to mitigate risks.
  • Targeted strategies addressing patient and environmental factors can improve safety.
  • Continuous monitoring and program evaluation are vital for reducing pediatric falls and injuries.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Using Motion Capture Technology in the Instrumented Timed Up and Go Test to Detect the Risk of Falling in Aged Adults05:26

Using Motion Capture Technology in the Instrumented Timed Up and Go Test to Detect the Risk of Falling in Aged Adults

Published on: October 25, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Drug Toxicity: Risk factors01:24

Drug Toxicity: Risk factors

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are potential complications that arise during pharmacotherapy, influenced by multiple risk factors. Age plays a significant role; both neonates and the elderly are at heightened risk due to their respective immature and diminished metabolic and elimination processes. Gender also impacts ADRs, with females experiencing a 1.5 to 1.7-fold greater risk than males, which may be linked to pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and hormonal differences. Notably, neonates, the...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios01:26

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios

Pharmaceutical poisoning can occur through various channels, impacting an estimated 2 million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually with serious adverse drug responses. These scenarios encompass both therapeutic uses, such as drug toxicity, where even standard dosages can lead to severe central nervous system depression, and non-therapeutic exposures, including accidental ingestion by children, and environmental and occupational exposures.Unintentional poisonings often involve exploratory...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
Types of Reports II: Incident or Occurrence Report01:21

Types of Reports II: Incident or Occurrence Report

An Incident or Occurrence Report in a healthcare setting is a crucial document used to record any unexpected occurrence that may or may not have affected a patient, employee, or visitor. Such reports are critical to improving patient safety and include all details leading up to and including the event.
Purposes:
In the healthcare industry, reports play a crucial role in documenting incidents within an agency. The primary objective of these reports is to ensure patient safety, uphold the...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...