Inpatient falls are common and may result in serious physical and psychological morbidity. In hospitals, quality of care is important for healthcare workers, patients, and their relatives. Falls and accidents are therefore an important risk management issue.
The objective of this study was to evaluate patient and ward characteristics relating to falls in an acute care setting.
In a prospective open observational study fall characteristics in two nuclear-designed wards (A and B) and a longitudinal ward (C) were examined.
The longitudinal ward (C) recorded significantly higher numbers of falls and event-positive days. Falls occurred more often close to the bedside (bed and chair) than in the other two radial wards. Ward C also recorded the most fallers over the study compared with the nuclear wards.
This study did not evaluate other ward configurations; therefore, the outcome generalizability is limited.