Influence of medications and diagnoses on fall risk in psychiatric inpatients

Source: American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 2010, 67(15) p. 1274 – 80

Follow this link for the abstract

Date of publication: August 2010

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: This retrospective case-control study set out to identify risk factors for falls in adult psychiatric inpatients. The study examined 774 patients who had fallen, over 50% of whom were female. The median age of patients was 60. The results highlighted specific medications associated with an increased falls risk; however several drugs which were previously considered high risk were not found to be linked to an increased risk of patient falls. Falls were also reported to be more common in patients with bipolar disorder, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Length of publication: 6 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Acknowledgement: NeLM News Service, 26 July 2010

Patient’s shower fall led to death

Source: The Shields Gazette

Follow this link for this news story

Date of publication: July 2010

Publication type: News story

In a nutshell: South Tyneside District Hospital’s falls procedures were described as ‘flawed’ following the death of a cancer patient who sustained a serious head injury after falling in the shower.  The 85 year old patient was considered at low risk of falling, and was left unsupervised whilst showering for 15 – 25 minutes during which time she fell. The cause of death was attributed to bronchial pneumonia and a brain haemorrhage due to falling.

Length of publication: 1 web page

The high impact actions for nursing and midwifery 3: staying safe, preventing falls

Source: Nursing Times, 2010, 106(29).

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: July 2010

Publication type: Journal article (online)

In a nutshell: This article highlights four successful UK falls prevention programmes, three of which operate in acute settings. Case studies describe the use of sensor alarms, distraction therapy and a checklist-observation tool in the context of helping to prevent falls and improve patient safety and wellbeing.

Length of publication: 1 web page

Acknowledgement: nursingtimes.net, 26 July 2010

Influence of patients’ mental status on inpatient falls in adult acute care settings

Source: Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2010, 66(8) p.  1741-1746

Follow this link for abstract

Date of publication: June 2010

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Results of a retrospective research study in the US of fallers’ mental status as one of the patient-related intrinsic risk factors for falls.  Concludes that risk assessment and targeted surveillance should be used as part of falls prevention policy involving nursing staff and family members in assessing a patient’s mental status as this may help to prevent falls caused by mental status deficits.

Length of publication: 6 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article.  Follow this link to find your local NHS Library

Trust to act after falls at Colchester hospitals increase

Source: This is Local London

Follow this link for this news story

Date of publication: August 2010

Publication type: News story

In a nutshell: Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust have appointed a nurse consultant in light of a recent increase in falls. Failure to prevent falls included insufficient screening of high-risk patients which resulted in a total of 269 falls across two Trust hospitals during May and June this year.

Length of publication: 1 web page

Further Dissemination

If you think someone would benefit from receiving this posting, please email them the link to this blog and suggest they subscribe to Falls Prevention Horizon Scanning by email.

Falls Prevention Horizon Scanning Bulletin Volume 1 Issue 3