Consumer perspectives on implementing falls prevention and management in rehabilitation hospitals: protocol for a...

High-quality clinical practice guidelines and hospital standards on falls prevention and management now exist, yet their implementation into clinical practice is variable. Insights from consumers could help to guide the development of a process to improve the implementation of falls prevention and management, particularly in rehabilitation hospitals where fall rates are high.

A qualitative descriptive study will incorporate semistructured interviews and focus groups to explore the perspectives of hospital consumers on how hospital falls prevention evidence can best be implemented into rehabilitation practice. Thematic analysis of the data will be conducted in NVivo using a six-phase thematic coding process guided by Braun and Clarke. Evaluation and synthesis of the data will also follow the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist. Consideration of the results from the interviews and focus groups will provide insights into the views of people with lived experience of hospitalisation and falls. Thematic analysis will be supported by direct quotes for each key theme and will highlight how the themes relate to the study aims and the rehabilitation context.

The study was approved by La Trobe University Human Research Ethics Committee (HEC24526). The study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, and findings will be presented at conferences, workshops and online events.