Does 20-min rounding reduce falls in an aged-care setting? A pilot intervention study.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Falls are a significant concern in aged care settings, impacting resident well-being and healthcare costs.
• Current fall prevention strategies require ongoing evaluation for effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of a 20-minute rounding intervention in reducing falls among residents in aged care facilities.
• To assess the impact of structured, frequent observations on fall incidence and related injuries.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted across five aged care facilities.
• Participants aged 66-99 years were allocated to either a 20-minute rounding intervention group or a control group for six months.
• Fall data for all residents within each facility was collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant difference in the number of falls was observed between individual participants in the intervention and control groups (p=0.108).
• A significant trend towards a decrease in the average number of falls across all aged care sites was noted during the intervention period (p=0.056).
• No fall-related fractures occurred in the intervention group throughout the study duration.

Conclusions:

• The 20-minute rounding intervention shows promise as a strategy to decrease overall falls in aged care settings.
• Further research may be warranted to optimize this intervention for greater impact on individual fall reduction.