Posted: October 27th, 2023

Prevention of patient falls through education

Prevention of patient falls through education.
Patient falls are a common and serious problem in healthcare settings, especially among older adults. They can result in injuries, disabilities, increased length of stay, and higher costs. Therefore, preventing patient falls is a priority for healthcare providers and organizations. One of the strategies to prevent patient falls is education. Education can target patients, families, and staff to raise awareness, improve knowledge, and change behaviors related to fall risk factors and prevention measures. This paper will discuss the importance of education for preventing patient falls, the evidence-based interventions that can be implemented, and the challenges and recommendations for future research and practice.

Education for patients and families

Patients and families are the main stakeholders in fall prevention, as they can identify and report fall risk factors, participate in fall prevention plans, and follow safety instructions. Therefore, educating patients and families about fall risk factors and prevention measures is essential to reduce the incidence and severity of patient falls. According to the literature, education for patients and families can include:

– Providing written and verbal information about fall risk factors and prevention measures at admission and throughout the hospital stay
– Assessing patients’ knowledge and understanding of fall risk factors and prevention measures
– Involving patients and families in developing individualized fall prevention plans
– Encouraging patients and families to ask questions and report any concerns or changes in condition
– Teaching patients and families how to use assistive devices, such as walkers or canes, safely
– Educating patients and families about the importance of medication adherence, hydration, nutrition, exercise, and sleep for fall prevention
– Providing discharge instructions and referrals to community resources for fall prevention

Several studies have shown that education for patients and families can improve their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to fall prevention, as well as reduce the rate of patient falls. For example, a randomized controlled trial by Haines et al. (2011) found that providing individualized education for patients at high risk of falling reduced the rate of falls by 25% compared to usual care. Another randomized controlled trial by Hill et al. (2011) found that providing a multimedia education program for older patients reduced the rate of falls by 35% compared to usual care.

Education for staff

Staff are also key players in fall prevention, as they can assess patients’ fall risk, implement fall prevention interventions, monitor patients’ condition, and respond to falls. Therefore, educating staff about fall risk factors and prevention measures is crucial to enhance their knowledge, skills, and confidence in fall prevention. According to the literature, education for staff can include:

– Providing online or face-to-face training sessions on fall risk assessment tools, fall prevention protocols, best practices, and case studies
– Conducting audits and feedback on staff performance and compliance with fall prevention protocols
– Creating a culture of safety and accountability for fall prevention
– Encouraging staff to share their experiences and learn from each other
– Providing incentives and recognition for staff who demonstrate excellence in fall prevention

Several studies have shown that education for staff can improve their knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to fall prevention, as well as reduce the rate of patient falls. For example, a quasi-experimental study by Dykes et al. (2010) found that providing online training on fall prevention for nurses reduced the rate of falls by 40% compared to usual care. Another quasi-experimental study by Tzeng et al. (2011) found that providing feedback on staff performance on fall prevention reduced the rate of falls by 52% compared to usual care.

Challenges and recommendations

Despite the evidence supporting the effectiveness of education for preventing patient falls, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed. Some of the challenges include:

– Lack of time, resources, and motivation for staff to participate in education programs
– Lack of standardized and validated tools to measure the impact of education programs on knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and outcomes
– Lack of integration of education programs with other fall prevention strategies, such as environmental modifications or multifactorial interventions
– Lack of follow-up and reinforcement of education programs to sustain the effects over time

To overcome these challenges, some recommendations are:

– Developing tailored and interactive education programs that meet the needs and preferences of different target groups
– Using multiple methods and formats to deliver education programs, such as videos, games, simulations, or posters
– Evaluating the process and outcomes of education programs using reliable and valid indicators
– Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders to coordinate and implement education programs
– Providing ongoing support and feedback to participants to maintain their engagement and motivation

Conclusion

Education is an important strategy for preventing patient falls in healthcare settings. Education can target patients, families, and staff to increase their awareness, knowledge, and skills related to fall risk factors and prevention measures. Education can also influence their attitudes and behaviors to adopt safer practices and reduce the incidence and severity of patient falls. However, education alone is not enough to prevent patient falls. Education should be combined with other fall prevention strategies, such as environmental modifications or multifactorial interventions, to achieve optimal results. Moreover, education should be evaluated and monitored to ensure its effectiveness and sustainability over time.

Bibliography

Dykes, P. C., Carroll, D. L., Hurley, A., Lipsitz, S., Benoit, A., Chang, F., Meltzer, S., Tsurikova, R., Zuyov, L. and Middleton, B. (2010) ‘Fall prevention in acute care hospitals homework help – research paper writing service: a randomized trial’, JAMA, 304(17), pp. 1912-1918.

Haines, T. P., Hill, A. M., Hill, K. D., McPhail, S., Oliver, D., Brauer, S., Hoffmann, T. and Beer, C. (2011) ‘Patient education to prevent falls among older hospital inpatients: a randomized controlled trial’, Archives of Internal Medicine, 171(6), pp. 516-524.

Hill, A. M., McPhail, S. M., Waldron, N., Etherton-Beer, C., Ingram, K., Flicker, L., Haines, T. P. and Hill, K. D. (2011) ‘Fall rates in hospital rehabilitation units after individualised patient and staff education programmes: a pragmatic, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised controlled trial’, The Lancet, 377(9784), pp. 2095-2103.

Tzeng, H. M., Yin, C. Y. and Grunawalt, J. (2011) ‘Effective assessment of use of sitters by nurses in inpatient care settings’, Journal of Advanced Nursing, 67(8), pp. 1760-1768.

OSCOLA citation format:

Dykes PC and others, ‘Fall prevention in acute care hospitals: a randomized trial’ (2010) 304 JAMA 1912

Haines TP and others, ‘Patient education to prevent falls among older hospital inpatients: a randomized controlled trial’ (2011) 171 Archives of Internal Medicine 516

Hill AM and others, ‘Fall rates in hospital rehabilitation units after individualised patient and staff education programmes: a pragmatic, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised controlled trial’ (2011) 377 The Lancet 2095

Tzeng HM, Yin CY and Grunawalt J, ‘Effective assessment of use of sitters by nurses in inpatient care settings’ (2011) 67 Journal of Advanced Nursing 1760