Use of EHR Data to Identify Factors Affecting the Time to Fall

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Research

Background:

• Hospital falls are a significant concern, yet factors influencing the timing of falls post-admission are understudied.
• Early identification of fall risk factors is crucial for nursing interventions and patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors associated with early patient falls after hospital admission.
• To inform nursing practice and targeted fall prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of fall events from an adverse event reporting system and nursing records (January 2015 - May 2016).
• Utilized electronic health records from ten data sources to extract and integrate fall-related variables.
• Employed univariate and multiple linear regression to determine predictors of time to fall.

Main Results:

• Approximately 49% of patients who fell experienced their fall within the first week of hospitalization.
• Significant factors linked to early falls included: walking disorders, comorbid diseases, intravenous therapy, and arterial lines.

Conclusions:

• A substantial proportion of hospital falls occur early in the patient's stay.
• Specific patient conditions and medical interventions are associated with an increased risk of early falls, necessitating focused nursing attention.