Falls Prevention Horizon Scanning Bulletin Volume 7 Issue 4

Mobility Communication Charts

Source: The Academy of NHS Fabulous Stuff

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Date of publication: March 2017

Publication type: Website

In a nutshell: This research looked into ways of more effective fast communication to all members of a multi-disciplinary team to see clearly at a glance the mobile status of a patient after physiotherapy treatment. Members looked at the viability and usefulness of having a permanent, documented and easy to use communication method at the patient’s bedside using a colour chart and key. This could be read by health professionals and family members even at a distance, ensuring patients receive the correct level of assistance for their current level of mobility.

Length of publication: 1 page

Dopamine depletion in Parkinsons alters brain processing, impairing gait automaticity

Source: NeuroImage, 2017, Vol 152 p. 207-220

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Date of publication: May 2017

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Impairments in motor automaticity cause patients with Parkinson’s disease to rely on attentional resources during gait, resulting in greater motor variability and a higher risk of falls. Although dopaminergic circuitry is known to play an important role in motor automaticity, little evidence exists on the neural mechanisms underlying the breakdown of locomotor automaticity in Parkinson’s disease. Overall, this study demonstrates that dopamine ameliorates gait automaticity in Parkinson’s disease by altering striatal, limbic and cerebellar processing, thereby informing future therapeutic avenues for gait and falls prevention.

Length of publication: 13 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.

Depressive symptomatology and fall risk among community-dwelling older adults

Source: Social Science & Medicine, 2017, Vol 178 p. 206-213

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Date of publication: April 2017

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Falls are common among older adults and may be related to depressive symptoms (DS). With advancing age, there is an onset of chronic conditions, sensory impairments, and activity limitations that are associated with falls and with depressive disorders. Prior cross-sectional studies have observed significant associations between DS and subsequent falls as well as between fractures and subsequent clinical depression and DS. Using sophisticated methods and a large U.S. sample, this study found larger magnitudes of effect in the DS-falls relationship than in prior studies—highlighting the risk of falls for older adults with DS.

Length of publication: 7 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.

An integrative review of pediatric fall risk assessment tools

Source: Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 2017, online

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Date of publication: March 2017

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Patient fall prevention begins with accurate risk assessment. However, sustained improvements in prevention and quality of care include use of validated fall risk assessment tools (FRATs) to identify patients at highest risk. Adult FRATs are often used to create tools for pediatric patients. However, adult FRATs do not adequately assess risk in children, and pediatric FRATs have not been found to be reliable and valid across institutions and diverse populations. This review highlights the importance of choosing a FRAT based on an institution’s identified risk factors and validating the tool for one’s own patient population.

Length of publication: 1 page

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.

Is independence of older adults safe considering the risk of falls?

Source: BMC Geriatrics

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Date of publication: 14 March 2017

 Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: The main objective of the study was to evaluate the degree of independence and find the fall risk factors in the study group.

 Length of publication: 7 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.

 

A home program of strength training, movement strategy training and education did not prevent falls in people with Parkinson’s disease: a randomised trial

Source: Journal of Physiotherapy 

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Date of publication: 14 March 2017

 Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: For people with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, does a 6-week, comprehensive, home exercise program reduce falls and disability and improve health-related quality of life? Is the program cost-effective?

 Length of publication: 7 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.

 

Paramedic assessment of older adults after falls, including community care referral pathway: cluster randomized trial

Source: Annals of Emergency Medicine 

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Date of publication: 13th March 2017

 Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: The aim of this study is to determine clinical and cost-effectiveness of a paramedic protocol for the care of older people who fall.

 Length of publication: 39 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.