Interventions to Prevent Falls and Injuries in Inpatient Oncology Units: A Scoping Review

Individuals with cancer are at a heightened risk of experiencing falls and related injuries during hospitalization.

Our aim was to systematically summarize and evaluate the literature examining the effectiveness of fall prevention interventions employed in the oncology inpatient setting.

Guided by the PRISMA statement, a health librarian conducted searches of 5 databases, which uncovered 1039 unduplicated studies that were screened by 2 independent reviewers. The Quality Improvement Minimum Quality Criteria Set was used to evaluate methodological quality.

The 10 quality improvement studies all included a multifactorial intervention and most based these on an assessment with few targeting cancer-specific factors. Most interventions were staff-focused with a few incorporating the patient's input.

Individualized assessments and interventions enhance care effectiveness when patient care teams and patients are aligned. Nurse rounding and engaging patients improve communication, self-assessment, satisfaction, and adherence, warranting further research and technological advancements.