Nursing-Led Interventions for Preventing Falls in Hospitalized Patients: A Systematic Literature Review

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• In-hospital falls are frequent adverse events with significant consequences, including patient injury, functional decline, extended hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs.
• Effective and sustainable nursing interventions are crucial for mitigating the incidence and impact of falls in hospital settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and identify effective nursing care interventions for reducing fall rates among hospitalized patients.
• To synthesize evidence on nursing-led strategies for inpatient fall prevention.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review adhering to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology was conducted.
• The PICO framework guided the review, searching MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus for studies on nursing interventions for fall prevention in inpatients.
• Included studies encompassed randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental, observational studies, and quality improvement initiatives.

Main Results:

• Six studies, including quasi-experimental, cohort, and quality improvement projects, were included.
• Two primary intervention themes emerged: structured multifactorial/educational approaches and technology-based solutions.
• Multifactorial interventions (risk assessment, education, communication, environment) and technology (video monitoring) demonstrated reductions in fall rates, particularly nighttime falls.

Conclusions:

• Structured, standardized, multifactorial, and nursing-led interventions show promise in reducing inpatient falls.
• While multifactorial and technology-based approaches are effective, methodological heterogeneity necessitates caution.
• More robust and comparable studies are required to establish definitive, practice-relevant recommendations for inpatient fall prevention.