Heights of occupied patient beds: a possible risk factor for inpatient falls.
2008
Journal of Clinical Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 11
Volume 17
Pages 1503-1509
Author(s): Tzeng, H. M., Yin, C. Y.
The height of occupied patient beds can be an overlooked contributor to inpatient falls. Hospital bed frames are still eight–12 inches higher than those of home bedframes. The difference in heights may contribute to inpatient falls related to getting in and out of bed and to the severity of fall-related injuries. Better physical design of hospital equipment such as patient beds may reduce patient falls and injuries.
Added November 2014
Cluster randomised trial of a targeted multifactorial intervention to prevent falls among older people in hospital.
2008
British Medical Journal
Journal Article
Issue 7647
Volume 336
Pages 758-760
Author(s): Cumming, R. G., Sherrington, C., Lord, S. R., Simpson, J. M., Vogler, C., Cameron, I. D., Naganathan, V.
Falls often occur among older people in hospitals, resulting in injuries, increased lengths of stay, and greater costs to the health center. Evidence on the best way to prevent falls in hospitals is limited.
Added November 2014
Reducing Falls in a Definitive Observation Unit: An Evidence-Based Practice Institute Consortium Project
2008
Critical Care Nursing Quarterly
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 31
Pages 127-139
Author(s): Gutierrez, F., Smith, K.
A Definitive Observation Unit (DOU) in a hospital in California maintains high standards of nursing and follows an evidence-based practice of fall prevention. Yet the facility’s fall rates continue to be higher than the benchmark for similar hospitals.
Added September 2014
Influence of pavement design parameters in safety perception in the elderly
2008
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
Journal Article
Issue 11-12
Volume 38
Pages 992-998
Author(s): Zamora, T., Alcantara, E., Artacho, M. A., Cloquell, V.
Added September 2014
The force attenuation provided by hip protectors depends on impact velocity, pelvic size, and soft tissue stiffness
2008
Journal of Biomechanical Engineering
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 130
Pages 061005
Author(s): Laing, A. C., Robinovitch, S. N.
Added September 2014
Bed and Toilet Height as Potential Environmental Risk Factors.
2008
Clinical Nursing Research
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 17
Pages 50-66
Author(s): Capezuti, E., Wagner, L., Brush, B. L., Boltz, M., Renz, S., Secic, M.
Approximately 60 percent of all nursing home residents have difficulty transferring out of bed independently. The ability to safely rise to a standing position is an important determinant of independence among older adults. The ability to transfer out of bed from a sit to stand position is dependent on several general patient characteristics such as age, functional status, and disease state.
Added August 2014
Evaluation of a comprehensive slip, trip and fall prevention programme for hospital employees
2008
Ergonomics
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 51
Pages 1906-1925
Author(s): Bell, J.L., Collins, J.W., Wolf, L., Grönqvist, R., Chiou, S., Chang, W.R., Sorock, G.S., Courtney, T.K., Lombardi, D.A., Evanoff, B.
Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicate that total slips, trips, and fall-related injuries account for the second greatest proportion (30 percent) of all work-related emergency department visits requiring hospitalization. Since slips, trips, and falls result from a wide variety of circumstances, there are a number of countermeasures with the potential to reduce slips, trips, and fall injury incidents. These include slip-resistant shoes floor surfaces, mats, and waxes, prompt cleaning of spillage and debris, keeping stairs and walkways clear, improving lighting, adding handrails, and clearing ice and snow.
Added August 2014
A novel night lighting system for postural control and stability in seniors
2008
Lighting Research and Technology
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 40
Pages 111-126
Author(s): Figueiro, M. G., Gras, L., Qi, R., Rizzo, P., Rea, M., Rea, M. S.
Age-related changes may result in impaired balance control, and thus can lead to increase risk of falls among the elderly. Visual information provides a spatial reference for self-position and location of obstacles within a person’s environment. Lack of this information results in increased body sway. In addition, low ambient light levels reduce postural control. Therefore, this study investigated the effectiveness of a novel self-luminous light emitting diode (LED) night-lighting system that provided linear spatial orientation cues plus low ambient lighting for enhancing postural control in healthy seniors.
Added April 2014
The Extrinsic Risk Factors for Inpatient Falls in Hospital Patient Rooms
2008
Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 23
Pages 233–241
Author(s): Tzeng, H., Yin, C.
A hospital can be a dangerous place for inpatients because of its unfamiliar physical environment and changes in patients’ medical conditions. Some research shows that a better physical facility design leads to better healthcare outcomes, such as fewer patient falls in acute-care hospitals. Eliminating the extrinsic risk factors for inpatient falls by improving hospital environment and design may decrease fall rates and fall-related injuries, although this link has not been examined systematically.
Added January 2014
Falls, Technology, and Stunt Actors: New Approaches to Fall Detection and Fall Risk Assessment
2008
Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 23
Pages 195-201
Author(s): Rantz, M. J., Aud, M. A., Alexander, G., Wakefield, B. J., Skubic, M., Luke, R. H., Anderson, D., Keller, J. M.
One in every 3 people aged 65 or older falls each year, making falls the most common cause of trauma-related injuries and hospitalizations in older adults and the leading cause of death due to injury. In addition, falls are often the prelude to rapid functional decline, costly hospitalization and rehabilitation services, loss of independence and physical function, and even death. Despite healthcare providers’ efforts at prevention, falls among older adults continue to be a critical and costly problem. Clearly, new methods are needed to address this issue.
Added January 2014
The effect of bedrails on falls and injury: a systematic review of clinical studies
2008
Age and Ageing
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 37
Pages 368-378
Author(s): Healey, F., Oliver, D. , Milne, A., Connelly, J.B.
Falls and injury are a significant concern in healthcare and are linked to the never events. Around 1/4th of the falls in healthcare settings are from the bed. However, the literature on the role of bedrails in fall prevention is controversial and the prevailing opinion is that bedrails can be harmful and ineffective.
Added October 2012
Building the evidence base for evidence-based design: Editors' introduction
2008
Environment and Behavior
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 40
Pages 147-150
Author(s): Zimring, C., Bosch, S.
Added October 2012
Symposium looks into healthy designs
2008
Pebble Project-Published Articles
Journal Article
Issue August 2008
Volume Daily Journal of Commerce
Pages 1
Author(s): Bennett, S.
Added October 2012
Strategies to reduce patient harm: understanding the role of design and the built environment
2008
Studies in Health Technology and Informatics
Journal Article
Author(s): Barach, P.
Added October 2012
Transforming care in children's hospitals through environmental design: Literature Review
2008
Evidence for Innovation: Transforming Children's Health Through the Physical Environment
Book Section
Author(s): Joseph, A., Keller, A., Kronick, K.
Added October 2012
Using Root Cause Analysis to Reduce Falls in Rural Health Care Facilities
2008
Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches
Book
Author(s): Ruddick, P., Hannah, K., , Schade, C.P., Bellamy, G., Brehm, J., Lomely, D.
Added October 2012
Using a Computerized Fall Risk Assessment Process to Tailor Interventions in Acute Care
2008
Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches
Book
Author(s): Hook, M.L.
Added October 2012
