Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
Characteristics of falls in inpatient psychiatric units
Justin Scanlan1, Jessica Wheatley, Susannah McIntosh
1Mental Health Services, Sydney Local Health District, and Discipline of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. kran5388@uni.sydney.edu.au
Objective:
Falls in inpatient psychiatric units are more frequent than in other age-matched unit types. We set out to explore factors associated with falls in inpatient units in a large metropolitan mental health service.
Method:
Contributory factors, location, activity and outcomes were identified for 559 falls. Overall falls rates were also calculated.
Results:
Falls rate was 1.25 per 1000 occupied bed days, with highest rates in psychogeriatric units. Almost 50% of falls were related to physiological factors, with balance or mobility difficulties accounting for 19% of all falls. Falls most frequently occurred in bedrooms, outdoor areas, corridors and bathrooms. The most common activity at the time of the fall was walking (41%) and transfers were associated with 17% of falls. Outcomes were evenly spread between no outcome and minor to moderate injury. No severe injuries were reported.
Conclusions:
Although falls may have been under-reported, this study establishes an analysis framework and baseline data for the monitoring of falls in inpatient psychiatric units in Australia.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
01:23Acute Respiratory Failure-IV
01:19Restorative Care
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
01:28Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
00:59Hospitals-II
Nurses that work in hospitals have...