Monitoring falls as an adverse event in hospitalised patients
Section: Health and quality of life
How to quote
Santos-Laraña MA et al. Monitorización de las caídas como efecto adverso en pacientes hospitalizados. Metas de Enferm nov 2007; 10(9): 18-22
Authors
1Mª Ángeles Santos Laraña, 2Mª Ujué Clavería Aranguren, 3Carmen Ollobarren Huarte, 2Carmen Agote Cuesta, 2Cristina Domínguez
Position
1Enfermera. Profesora Titular de Escuela Universitaria. Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Pública de Navarra.2Enfermeras del Hospital de Navarra.3Diplomada en Enfermería. Directora de Enfermería del Hospital de Navarra.
Contact address
Universidad Pública de Navarra. Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud. Avenida Barañáin, s/n. 31008 Pamplona (Navarra).
Contact email: angeles.santos@unavarra.es
Abstract
Objective: to monitor falls and to determine the main causes that make patients fall at the Internal Medicine and Endocrinology Unit at the Hospital de Navarra.
Methodology: a register was designed which encompassed data referring to the patient, to the actual fall, the context within the fall occurred, and its consequences. The study period ranged from november 2002 to april 2005 and the study population was composed of admitted patients in the unit over that period of time.
Results: 92 falls occurred with a 2% incidence in the referred Unit. Patients with pathologies of the respiratory system, circulatory system and those with blood disorders and diseases sustained more falls. The greatest number of falls occurred during the first hours of the night shift and first hours of the morning shift, the event being related to contextual factors, patient activity and type of drug taken. Only in two cases, the fall had important consequences, but these were severe and costly.
Conclusions: once the risk factors have been identified, prevention measures need to be put into effect to prevent patients from falling. The objective is to avoid a risk which could have very serious and costly consequences, and the management of which involves commitment and a proactive attitude from the nursing team and the collaboration of the patients and their carers.
Keywords:
falls; adverse effect; patient safety; risk factors; hospitalisationelderly
Versión en Español
Título:
Monitorización de las caídas como efecto adverso en pacientes hospitalizados