Falls present a major challenge for
health care systems: they correlate with poor patient outcomes, extend the
length of hospitalization, and increase overall medical expenditure. According
to existing literature, risk factors for the occurrence of falls include the
male gender, urinary incontinence, muscle weakness, agitation or confusion,
and dementia. Studies have shown that the combined practice of identifying risk
factors and implementing appropriate fall prevention interventions leads to a
reduction in the incidence of falls among hospital patients. As the largest
group of health professionals committed to providing high-quality care, nurses
play an important role in preventing falls among patient populations. In
order to prevent falls and maintain patient safety, it is important to identify
the most effective strategies for fall prevention. This study presents an
overview of previously published strategies and intervention practices on fall
prevention in hospital settings around the world. The most common
interventions include fall risk assessment, environment/equipment
modifications, patient education/family education on fall prevention
interventions, staff education on fall reporting and fall prevention, fall
risk alerts, medication management, physical fitness of patients, assistance
with transfer and toileting and effective team communication and leadership.
Ultimately, it is incumbent upon nurses, other health-care professionals and
the entire hospital system to develop effective strategies in order to prevent
falls among hospitalised patients.
Nursing care related to fall prevention among hospitalized elderly people: an integrative review