A comparison of floor surfaces for injury prevention in care settings: impact forces and horizontal pulling force required to move wheeled equipment
2020
Osteoporosis International
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 31
Pages 2383-2394
Author(s): Keenan, B. E., Hallas, K., Drahota, A. K., Evans, S. L.
Injury-inducing falls frequently occur in both care homes and hospitals. One way to prevent fall-related injuries is shock-absorbing flooring. The authors of this study note that at the time of writing, there are no established standards for what type of flooring is most effective for injury prevention.
Added July 2022
Understanding Design Vulnerabilities in the Physical Environment Relating to Patient Fall Patterns in a Psychiatric Hospital: Seven Years of Sentinel Events
2019
Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 25
Pages 134-145
Author(s): Bayramzadeh, S., Portillo, M., Carmel-Gilfilen, C.
Finding effective ways to prevent patient falls and fall-related injuries has been an ongoing struggle and debate for many modern medical practitioners. Previous studies have shown that nearly 30% of falls that occur in hospital settings result in injuries and, subsequently, additional treatments.
Added June 2018
Effects of Impact-Absorbing Flooring in Residential Care from the Perspectives of Enrolled Nurses
2017
Journal of Housing For the Elderly
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 31
Pages 367-381
Author(s): Gustavsson, J., Rahm, G., Jernbro, C., Nilson, F.
Despite the fact that patient falls happen on a daily basis, there are few effective solutions for reducing fall-related injuries.
Added April 2018
Top Five Physical Design Factors Contributing to Fall Initiation
2018
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 11
Pages 50-64
Author(s): Pati, D., Lee, J., Mihandoust, S., Kazem-Zadeh, M., Oh, Y.
Falls in older patients are dangerous and are of major concern for healthcare professionals. Several studies were done on the associated causes of the falls but few have addressed the impact of the physical environment.
Added April 2018
Physical design factors contributing to patient falls
2021
Journal of Patient Safety
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 17
Pages e135-e142
Author(s): Pati, D., Valipoor, S., Cloutier, A., Yang, J., Freier, P., Harvey, T. E., Lee, J.
Previous studies show that patient falls in hospitals are not only a leading cause of disability, injury, and mortality, but that they also affect the family members of patients, the caregivers, and the overall healthcare system.
Added February 2017
Compliant flooring to prevent fall-related injuries in older adults: A scoping review of biomechanical efficacy, clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and workplace safety
2017
PLOS ONE
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 12
Pages 1-23
Author(s): Lachance, C. C., Jurkowski, M. P., Dymarz, A. C., Robinovitch, S. N., Feldman, F., Laing, A. C., Mackey, D. C., Tranah, G.
Compliant flooring may be broadly defined as any floor covering or flooring system with some degree of shock absorbency. Numerous previous studies have shown that different forms of compliant flooring can reduce the severity and incidence of fall-related injuries in older adult patients.
Added February 2017
Environmental Variables That Influence Patient Satisfaction: A Review of the Literature
2016
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 10
Pages 155-169
Author(s): MacAllister, L., Zimring, C., Ryherd, E.
This paper is a literature review that compiles a number of studies investigating the layouts and designs of hospitals and work settings, and the influences that these environments have on health and behavioral outcomes in patients. More specifically, this review seeks to identify possible links between physical and social environmental influences to self-reported patient outcomes. The authors wish to more fully understand the elements that influence patient satisfaction, and then begin a discussion over how physical and social environments can be further analyzed to enhance satisfaction.
Added September 2016
Impact of the Physical Environment of Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities (RHCSF) on Staff and Residents A Systematic Review of the Literature
2015
Environment and Behavior
Journal Article
Issue 10
Volume 48
Pages 1203-1241
Author(s): Joseph, A., Choi, Y.-S., Quan, X.
Strategies related to the design of the built environment should be considered within the context of the culture of the organization and the resident population. This study of the physical environment of residential health, care, and support facilities addresses the range of settings and population, where other studies have been lacking. The literature review strongly suggests that the built environment is an important component of care provided in residential care settings.
Added May 2016
Profile of inpatient falls in patients with dementia: A prospective comparative study between 100% single rooms and traditional multibedded wards
2016
Journal of Clinical Gerontology and Geriatrics
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 7
Pages 87-92
Author(s): Knight, S., Singh, I.
A previous study estimates that the number of people with dementia in the U.K. could reach over 1 million by the year 2025. This possibility places added pressure on U.K. hospitals to develop safer methods for taking care of patients with dementia. Dementia is associated with impaired mobility, and previous studies have shown that individuals with dementia are two to three times more likely to fall. Inpatient falls (IFs) account for nearly two-fifths of the patient safety incidents reported to the National Reporting and Learning System, and the risk of IF is highest in single-patient rooms. There are very few studies that examine the impact of dementia and IF in single rooms as compared with traditional multi-bed wards.
Added May 2016
The design and initial evaluation of visual cues in carpets to assist walking
2016
The Journal of The Textile Institute
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 107
Pages 376-385
Author(s): McNeil, S. J., Tapp, L. S.
One way to reduce the occurrence of indoor falls for both elderly people and other individuals is to improve the design of floor coverings so that they can help create a safer walking environment. A growing number of studies are showing that the design of products such as carpets can specifically help older people lead more productive and independent lives by empowering them through safer opportunities for mobility.
Added May 2016
Managing Patient Falls in Psychiatric Inpatient Units: Part 1
2016
The Health Care Manager
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 35
Pages 21-27
Author(s): Abraham, S.
A significantly higher number of patient falls occur in hospital inpatient psychiatric units than in medical-surgical areas, resulting in issues with overall patient safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers patient falls a concern to society due to the safety issues they pose and financial strains they can cause for institutions.
Added April 2016
Is single room hospital accommodation associated with differences in healthcare-associated infection, falls, pressure ulcers or medication errors? A natural experiment with non-equivalent controls
2016
Journal of Health Services Research & Policy
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 21
Pages 147-155
Author(s): Simon, M., Maben, J., Murrells, T., Griffiths, P.
Previous studies have associated single-patient rooms with reduced infection rates, reduced medication errors, and faster patient recovery rates. In response, an increasing number of hospitals have been shifting towards an entirely single-patient room layout. Although there are plenty of studies from the U.K. providing empirical evidence for the efficacy of single-patient rooms, the United States lacks this foundation of published research, and could therefore benefit from an outcome analysis of single-patient rooms.
Added February 2016
Older Adult Inpatient Falls in Acute Care Hospitals
2015
Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Journal Article
Author(s): Zhao, Y. & Kim, H.
Traditional studies of patient falls have been focused on rehabilitation hospitals or nursing homes. This study seeks to add to the body of knowledge related to older adult patient falls by focusing on the acute care hospital setting.
Added January 2016
Home Modification and Prevention of Frailty Progression in Older Adults: A Japanese Prospective Cohort Study
2014
Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 40
Pages 40-46
Author(s): Mitoku, K., Shimanouchi, S.
In a study involving 574 Japanese adults 65 years or older who required a low or moderate level of care, 34% modified their homes over the course of the study. Modification of these older adults’ homes prevented the progression of frailty (requiring higher level of care).
Added January 2016
Automated Fall Detection with Quality Improvement “Rewind” to Reduce Falls in Hospital Rooms
2014
Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 40
Pages 13-17
Author(s): Rantz, M. J., Banerjee, T. S., Cattoor, E., Scott, S., Skubic, M. & Popescu, M.
This study uses Microsoft Kinect motion sensors to detect patient falls in a manner that protects patient privacy and promotes cost-efficiency. The Kinect sensor uses a pattern of infrared light to produce an in-depth and 3D, ghostlike image that can provide information on patient falls while maintaining patient privacy.
Added January 2016
Innovation Pilot Study: Acute Care for Elderly (ACE) Unit--Promoting Patient-Centric Care
2012
Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Author(s): Krall et al.
Older patients have different needs: cognitive impairment, chronic health issues, caregiver burden, and maintenance of functional level. These issues present challenges to healthcare organizations when caring for this population on a general medical-surgical unit.
Added January 2016
On SHiPs and Safety: A Journey of Safe Patient Handling in Pediatrics
2014
Journal of Pediatric Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 29
Pages 641-650
Author(s): Huffman, G. M., Crumrine, J., Thompson, B., Mobley, B., Roth, K. and Roberts, C.
Nursing personnel have repeatedly been ranked among professionals that are most frequently impacted by musculoskeletal injuries. While research in this area has traditionally focused on injuries that occur with adult patients, the growing epidemic of obesity in children makes this a relevant topic to pediatric nurses as well.
Added January 2016
Pod Nursing on a Medical/Surgical Unit
2014
Journal of Nursing Administration
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 44
Pages 207-211
Author(s): Friese, C. R., Grunawalt, J. C., Bhullar, S., Bihlmeyer, K., Chang, R., & Wood, W.
The project reported in this article uses a Pod Nursing (PN) care delivery model to enhance patient-nurse proximity and a team-based patient assignment to improve select nurse and patient outcomes.
Added January 2016
Destination Bedside
2012
The Journal of Nursing Administration
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 42
Pages 256-265
Author(s): Watkins, N., Kennedy, M., Lee, N., O’Neill, M., Peavey, E., DuCharme, M., & Padula, C.
Patient-centered care (PCC) has been at the core of healthcare reform. Improvements and advancements in Healthcare Information Technology (HIT), Electronic Health Records and inpatient unit layout have been some means that aim to achieve PCC. Also key to PCC is the alleviation of medical errors, which HIT and related technology can help achieve.
Added January 2016
Outcome of in-patient falls in hospitals with 100% single rooms and multi-bedded wards
2015
Age and Ageing
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 44
Pages 1032-1035
Author(s): Singh, I., Okeke, J., Edwards, C.
Patient falls are a major safety concern in hospitals. The authors report that up to 30% of patient falls result in injury, and that in the National Health Service (NHS) ward of U.K., 200,000 falls a year are documented. Of these, 900 incidents have been severe and 90 had resultant deaths.
Added December 2015
