Citation

Coahran M, Hillier LM, Van Bussel L, Black E, Churchyard R, Gutmanis I, Ioannou Y, Michael K, Ross T, Mihailidis A. Can. J. Aging 2018; 37(3): 245-260.

Affiliation

University of Toronto,Dept. of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy / Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Cambridge Press)

DOI

10.1017/S0714980818000181

PMID

29966539

Abstract

ABSTRACTHospitalized older adults are at high risk of falling. The HELPER system is a ceiling-mounted fall detection system that sends an alert to a smartphone when a fall is detected. This article describes the performance of the HELPER system, which was pilot tested in a geriatric mental health hospital. The system's accuracy in detecting falls was measured against the hospital records documenting falls. Following the pilot test, nurses were interviewed regarding their perceptions of this technology. In this study, the HELPER system missed one documented fall but detected four falls that were not documented. Although sensitivity (.80) of the system was high, numerous false alarms brought down positive predictive value (.01). Interviews with nurses provided valuable insights based on the operation of the technology in a real environment; these and other lessons learned will be particularly valuable to engineers developing this and other health and social care technologies.

Language: en

Keywords

aging; détection des chutes; fall detection; geriatric psychiatry; inpatient care; nursing; psychiatrie gériatrique; soins hospitaliers; soins infirmiers; technologie; technology; vieillissement