Pre-Procedural Patient Education Reduces Fall Risk in an Outpatient Endoscopy Suite.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare research
• Patient safety
• Nursing interventions

Background:

• Falls are a significant risk in healthcare settings, particularly for patients undergoing procedures like endoscopy.
• Identifying and mitigating fall risk factors is crucial for patient safety during recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of scripted pre-procedural fall risk education on patient receptiveness to nursing assistance.
• To determine if this intervention reduces fall rates in an outpatient endoscopy suite.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study identified high fall risk patients based on specific criteria (assistive device, history of falls/injuries, age, nursing judgment).
• Nurses used a scripted dialogue to educate patients about their fall risk and the offer of post-procedural assistance.
• Documentation of education, script use, and assistance provided was monitored.

Main Results:

• Out of 892 high fall risk patients, 88.5% accepted post-procedural assistance.
• Documentation of assistance increased from 33% to 100%.
• Patient education and assistance coverage reached 100% by week 24, with no falls reported in the subsequent 12 months.

Conclusions:

• Scripted pre-procedural fall risk education enhances patient awareness and willingness to accept nursing assistance.
• This intervention is effective in decreasing fall rates among high-risk patients in outpatient endoscopy settings.