Falls in hospital settings: a longitudinal study

Authors

  • Cidalina Abreu Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra
  • Aida Mendes Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra
  • José Monteiro Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
  • Filipa Raquel Santos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692012000300023

Keywords:

Accidental Falls, Aged, Accident Prevention, Safety

Abstract

This study aims to assess the prevalence of falls, understand their consequences, identify causes and analyze intervention strategies to prevent them. This is a descriptive longitudinal study, from 2007 to 2009, in which nurses recorded patients' falls in a medicine ward, using a scale developed for this end. Most falls occurred with partially dependent patients, with a mean age ranging from 64 to 74 years. The bedroom was, in all of these years, the place where most of these falls occurred. Although most falls did not have consequences, they were observed in 36% of the cases. The number of falls increased throughout the years of the study. There was also a difference in the percentage of occurrences in the afternoon and night shifts (39% in 2007, 57% in 2008 and 64% in 2009). The identification of obstacles to referral and how to overcome them are analyzed here.

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Published

2012-06-01

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 3 (2012)

Section

Original Articles

License

RLAE’s authorship concept is based on the substantial contribution by each of the individuals listed as authors, mainly in terms of conceiving and planning the research project, collecting or analyzing and interpreting data, writing and critical review. Indication of authors’ names under the article title is limited to six. If more, authors are listed on the online submission form under Acknowledgements. The possibility of including more than six authors will only be examined on multicenter studies, considering the explanations presented by the authors.
Including names of authors whose contribution does not fit into the above criteria cannot be justified. Those names can be included in the Acknowledgements section.
 Authors are fully responsible for the concepts disseminated in their manuscripts, which do not necessarily reflect the editors’ and editorial board’s opinion.

 

How to Cite

Falls in hospital settings: a longitudinal study. (2012). Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 20(3), 597-603. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692012000300023