Citation

Taylor B, Tymkew H, Vyers K, Taylor M, Roney W, Costantinou E. J. Nurs. Care Qual. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Research for Patient Care Services (Drs Taylor and Tymkew and Mss Vyers and Taylor) and Center for Practice Excellence (Mss Roney and Costantinou), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, Missouri.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000468

PMID

31972784

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hospital fall rates have changed minimally with preventive measures; however, the effect on injury rate is unclear.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to determine whether fall-related injuries have changed over time.

METHODS: A retrospective comparison was done of 1134 adult inpatient falls in 2017 to 1235 falls in 2001-2002 for injury and fall circumstances. Separate comparisons were made of patient characteristics by service line for 2017.

RESULTS: Severe fall injuries declined from 6% to 2.4%. Elimination issues remained the most common circumstance (38.9% and 42%). In 2017, malnutrition (31.6%), low function (61.4%), fall history (26.3%), and use of high-risk medications (83.2%) were common in patients who fell. Predictors of falls with injury by patient population were as follows: surgery-male gender (P =.01), low function (P =.006), elimination issues (P =.04); oncology-low function (P =.04); and neurology-low function (P =.02).

CONCLUSIONS: Severe fall-related injuries have decreased in the past 15 years. The most common circumstance for falls remains elimination issues.

Language: en