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Description and Implications of Falls in Patients Hospitalized Due to COVID-19
Dawn M Venema1, Amy Hester, Kellie Clapper
1Author Affiliations: Departments of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Dr Venema) and Allied Health Professions Education, Research, and Practice (Dr Kennel and Ms Skinner), College of Allied Health Professions, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; HD Nursing Patient Safety Organization, Benton, Arkansas (Dr Hester); Inpatient Rehab Services (Ms Clapper) and Nursing Professional Practice and Development (Ms Reames), Nebraska Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska; and Patricia A. Quigley Nurse Consultant, LLC, St Petersburg, Florida (Dr Quigley).
Background:
Many hospital quality indicators, including falls, worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 may be at risk for falling due to the disease itself, patient characteristics, or aspects of care delivery.
Purpose:
To describe and explore falls in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
Methods:
We pooled data from 107 hospitalized adult patients who fell between March 2020 and April 2021. Patients who fell had a current, pending, or recent diagnosis of COVID-19. We analyzed patient characteristics, fall circumstances, and patient and organizational contributing factors using frequencies, the chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test.
Results:
Patient contributing factors included patients' lack of safety awareness, impaired physical function, and respiratory concerns. Organizational contributing factors related to staff and the isolation environment.
Conclusions:
Recommendations for managing fall risk in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 include frequent reassessment of risk, consideration of respiratory function as a risk factor, ongoing patient education, assisted mobility, and adequate staff training.
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