Reducing falls can help trusts improve patient experience and reduce costs

Source: NHS Improvement, 2017

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Date of publication: July 2017

Publication type: Website

In a nutshell: This report from NHS Improvement provides a picture of the scale of inpatient falls and the benefits to the NHS if the rate in hospitals was reduced. It followed the successful completion of their collaboration between 19 trusts to adopt improvement methodologies and creating a learning community to discuss changes. Results include the observation that older patients represent 77% of total falls, but 87% of total costs – reducing this group by around 25-30% could result in annual savings of up to £170m.

Length of publication: 1 page

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Pilot Testing Fall TIPS (Tailoring Interventions for Patient Safety)

Source: The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 2017, online

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Date of publication: June 2017

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Patient falls during an acute hospitalization cause injury, reduced mobility, and increased costs. The laminated paper Fall TIPS Toolkit (Fall TIPS) provides clinical decision support at the bedside by linking each patient’s fall risk assessment with evidence-based interventions. Strategies were needed to integrate this evidence into clinical practice.

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.

Falls and fractures: consensus statement

Source: Government website, 2017

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Date of publication: January 2017

Publication type: Guidance

In a nutshell: Public Health England have published new guidance on falls and fractures around supporting commissioning for prevention. It outlines approaches to interventions and activities helping to prevent falls and fractures to improve health outcomes for older people

Spinal mobility and alignment leading to lower QoL and falling

Source: Gait & Posture, 2017, Volume 53 p. 98-103

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Date of publication: March 2017

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Spinal deformities can affect quality of life (QOL) and risk of falling, but no studies have explored the relationships of spinal mobility and sagittal alignment of spine and the lower extremities simultaneously. Purpose of this study is to clarify the relationship of those postural parameters to QOL and risk of falling. Forward-stooped posture and knee-flexion deformity could be important indicator of lower QOL. Moreover, limited extension in the lumbar spine could be a useful screening examination for fall prevention in the elderly.

Length of publication: 5 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.

Changes in physical activity, sedentary time and risk of falling

Source: Preventive Medicine, 2017, Vol 95 p. 103-109

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Date of publication: February 2017

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Falling significantly affects quality of life, morbidity, and mortality among older adults. This study sought to evaluate the prospective association between sedentary time, physical activity, and falling among post-menopausal women aged 50–79 years recruited to the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study between 1993 and 1998 in the US. It followed recreational physical activity, sitting, sleeping and lean body mass. Falls per year were assessed annually. It found that physically active lifestyles increased falling amongst post-menopausal women. Additional fall prevention strategies, such as balance and resistance training, are needed to prevent diseases caused by inactivity.

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.

East Lancs Falls Response Service…keeping 900 patients out of hospital

Source: The Academy of NHS Fabulous Stuff

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Date of publication: November 2016

Publication type: Website news article

In a nutshell: Based at Burnley Ambulance Station in East Lancashire, an Occupational Therapist (Rachel Bedwell) and North West Ambulance Service paramedic (Gail Smith) respond to 999 and 111 calls triaged as ‘Green code – Falls with no apparent injury’.

The Falls Response Service – a one-of-a-kind in England – has attended 1,272 calls in the past 18 months and the intervention of a qualified OT has kept over 70% of patients in their own home rather than being transported to A&E.

Length of publication: 1 page

CSP launches updated Falls Prevention Economic Model online

Source: Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, 2016, online

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Date of publication: August 2016

Publication type: Website news item

In a nutshell: The latest version of the Falls Prevention Economic Model, with fresh data and research, is now live on the CSP’s website. It shows that across the UK there is potential to save 160,000 falls each year, equating to a cost saving of £25.2 million to NHS services. The CSP has produced a detailed guide to accompany the relaunched model. The guide includes examples of people using the model and is also available on the society’s website.

Length of publication: 1 page

Patient perceptions with falls during hospitalization and after discharge

Source: Applied Nursing Research, 2016, Vol 31 p. 79-85

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Date of publication: August 2016

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: This study aims to describe the perceptions of hospitalised older people around their falls risk and fall prevention strategies received while hospitalised, and any instructions they received to prevent possible falls after discharge.

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.

Does action follow intention in falls prevention exercise programs?

Source: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 2016, Vol 64 p. 151-161

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Date of publication: May-June 2016

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Exercise for falls prevention is effective but limited in real life. This study examines this relationship, looking at which factors affect participation in group and home-based falls prevention exercise. It found that perception of effectiveness and previous exposure to the exercise intervention most strongly predicted future participation. More people who do not want to participate in home exercise actually participate in home exercise than people who do not want to participate in group exercise that actually do. It may be easier to convince people who do not want to participate in falls prevention exercise to participate in a home program.

Length of publication: 10 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.

Unintentional injuries treated in emergency departments among older people

Source: Journal of Safety Research, 2015, online

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Date of publication: December 2015

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: In the USA, unintentional injuries among older adults, and especially falls-related injuries, are an increasing public health concern. In 2011, 65% of these injuries were due to falls, which increased with age and peaked at the ≥ 100 age group. Prevention efforts to reduce falls and resulting injuries among adults aged ≥ 65 years have the potential to increase well-being and reduce health care spending. Increasing knowledge about fall risk factors and broadly disseminating evidence-based injury and fall prevention programs in both clinical and community settings must be priorities.

Length of publication: 1 page

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

Factors contributing to falls in older adults and nursing implications

Source: Geriatric Nursing, 2015, online

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Date of publication: September 2015

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Falls are a common cause of serious injury and death in the older adult population, associated with multiple risks such as age, history of falls, impaired mobility, balance and gait problems, and medications. Sensory and environmental factors as well as the fear of falling may also increase the risk of falls. This article reviews current best practice on screening fall risks and fear of falling, fall prevention strategies, and fall prevention resources to assist gerontological nurses in reducing falls by their older adult clients.

Length of publication: 10 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.

16th International Falls and Postural Stability Conference 11th September 2015

Source: ProFaNE website

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Date of publication: June 2015

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: This annual event is widely recognised as the leading meeting in the UK for clinicians working in the field of falls and mobility medicine. The day provides a forum for scientific discussion and clinical updates and enables a multidisciplinary audience of over 200 professionals to share their experiences of best clinical practice.

Length of publication: 1 page