Falls Prevention Horizon Scanning Bulletin Volume 2 Issue 1

Falls-prevention program in an orthopaedic setting reduces falls and costs

Source: Clinical Orthopaedics and Releated Research, 2011,  469(12)  p.3462-3468

Follow this link for the abstract

Date of publication: December 2011

Publication type: Research article

In a nutshell:  Authors examined the impact of a multidisciplinary Falls-prevention Program (FPP) on the incidence of inpatient falls and fall-related injuries in an orthopaedic hospital during a 6-year period. A cost analysis was performed to calculate costs incurred as a result of falls. Study concluded over 5 years period, the fall rate preintervention was significantly higher than the fall rate postintervention and there were significant decreases in fall incidence, fall-related morbidity, and consequent costs.

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.

Evaluation of the sustained effect of inpatient falls prevention education and predictors of falls after hospital discharge

Source:  Journals of Gerentology Series A, 2011,66 ( 9 ) p. 1001-1012

Follow this link for the abstract

Date of publication: September 2011

Publication type: Research article

In a nutshell:  This study aimed to determine the risk factors for postdischarge falls and the effect of inpatient falls prevention education on rates of falls after discharge.  Study concluded that for oder people who have increased risk of falls and injuries,  education that effectively reduced inpatient falls appears to have no ongoing protective effect after discharge. Independent risk factors for falls in this population differ from both hospital and general community settings.  Receiving assistance with activities of daily living significantly reduced the risk of falls and injurious falls for high risk patients.

Length of publication: 12 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.

New falls prevention e-learning package on the way

Source: NHS Networks webpage

Follow this link for the news item

Date of publication: December 2011

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell:  The Royal College of Physicians, in collaboration with NHS South of England (Central) and the National Patient Safety Agency, is developing an e-learning package for falls prevention in hospitals. The package will cover the key principles of understanding and acting on intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors in the hospital setting.   Launch date is expected to be Spring 2012.

Length of publication: 1 page

RCT results of evaluation of a targeted multiple intervention strategy to reducing patient falls in an acute hospital

Source: Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2011, 67(9), p. 1984-1992

Follow this link for full the abstract

Date of publication: September 2011

Publication type: Research article

In a nutshell:
Research by randomised controlled trial in Singapore into the impact of an individualised falls prevention strategy on patient falls in hospital. The effectiveness of usual care plus targeted multiple interventions based on patients’ individual risk factors was compared with usual care only in patients identified as high risk for falls.  Results indicate that targeted multiple interventions were effective in reducing the incidences of falls in patients in the acute care setting.

Length of publication: 9 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.

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