Evaluation of a patient-centered fall-prevention tool kit to reduce falls and injuries: A nonrandomized controlled trial (17 November 2020)

Summary

Falls represent a leading cause of preventable injury in hospitals and a frequently reported serious adverse event. Hospitalisation is associated with an increased risk for falls and serious injuries including hip fractures, subdural hematomas, or even death. Multifactorial strategies have been shown to reduce falls in acute care hospitals, but evidence for fall-related injury prevention in hospitals is lacking.

Dykes et al. assessed whether a fall-prevention tool kit that engages patients and families in the fall-prevention process throughout hospitalisation is associated with reduced falls and injurious falls.

The study found that implementation of a fall-prevention tool kit was associated with a significant reduction in falls and related injuries. A patient–care team partnership appears to be beneficial for prevention of falls and fall-related injuries.