BedSAFE. A bed safety project for frail older adults
2003
Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 11
Volume 29
Pages 34-42
Author(s): Choi, Y. S., Hoffman, S. B., Powell-Cope, G. , MacClellan, L. , Bero, K.
Bed rails may cause significant injury and death from entrapments. Systematic interventions are needed to guide practices that reduce bed-rail use while addressing related clinical issues.
Added May 2014
Effects of Acuity-Adaptable Rooms on Flow of Patients and Delivery of Care
2004
American Journal of Critical Care
Journal Article
Author(s): Hendrich, A. L., Fay, J., Sorrells, A.
Acuity-adaptable rooms could reduce patient transfer times, decrease costs, and increase patient quality of care and satisfaction. Researchers conducted a pre/post study in an acute care setting to evaluate the impact of moving to acuity-adaptable rooms on patient flow, hospital capacity, patient and staff satisfaction, sentinel events, average length of stay, and nursing productivity.
Added May 2014
Impact of Extended-Duration Shifts on Medical Errors, Adverse Events and Attentional Failures
2006
Public Library of Science Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 3
Pages 2440-2448
Author(s): Barger, L.K. , Ayas,N.T., Cade,B.E., Cronin, J.W., Rosner, B. , Speizer, F.E., Czeisler, C.A.
In the United States, medical students who are doing their internship (first year of postgraduate clinical training) regularly work in the clinic for longer than 24 hours at a time. There has been empirical evidence that the extended-duration shifts commonly worked by medical interns in hospitals may contribute to the risk of medical errors being made, and perhaps to the risk of adverse events more generally. The current study assessed whether extended-duration shifts worked by interns are associated with significant medical errors, adverse events, and attentional failures in a diverse population of interns across the United States.
Added May 2014
Lighting for improving balance in older adults with and without risk for falls
2012
Age & Ageing
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 41
Pages 392–395
Author(s): Figueiro, M. G., Gras, L. Z., Rea, M. S., Plitnick, B., Rea, M. S.
Sensory information about self-position and location of objects in the environment helps maintain balance, together with sensory input from the vestibular and somatosensory systems. The dependence on visual information for the maintenance of postural stability and control increases with age due to age-related changes that occur in the vestibular and somatosensory systems. Studies show that lighting enhances veridical visual information about the environment, and this could help older adults maintain better balance and be associated with less falls.
Added May 2014
Scheduled Medications and Falls in Dementia Patients Utilizing a Wander Garden
2009
American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 24
Pages 322–332
Author(s): Detweiler, M. B., Murphy, P. F., Kim, K. , Myers, L. , Ashai, A.
Among dementia residents, fall risk is often compounded by the side effects of the medications routinely used to treat comorbid medical issues, in addition to treating concurrent depression, agitation, psychosis, anxiety, and insomnia. Of all the types of medications involved in increased fall risk, psychotropic medications have been identified as having the highest risk. Studies suggest that dementia patients using a wander garden may have decreased indices of agitation and reduced use of as-needed (pro re nata [PRN]) medications. In addition, the wander garden has been reported to be a positive environmental intervention to reduce falls in residents with dementia.
Added May 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
Interventions for the prevention of falls in older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Issue 7441
Volume 328
Pages 680-686
Author(s): Chang, J.T., Morton, S.C, Rubenstein, L. Z., Mojica, W.A., Maglione, M., Suttorp, M.J., Shekelle, P. G.
Falls are a major health concern for older adults worldwide, not only because of the potential for fractures and head injuries, but also for the emotional toll—the fear and anxiety—that can develop as a result of an injury or close call. While the literature on fall interventions is vast, there is limited understanding about the best methods for preventing falls. The authors conducted an extensive review and analysis of relevant, rigorous research trials to assess the relative effectiveness of different types of fall interventions. Under comparison were falls risk assessment and management programs, exercise programs, environmental modification programs, and educational interventions.
Added March 2014
Effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention on falls in nursing home residents
2003
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 51
Pages 306–313
Author(s): Becker, C., Kron, M., Lindemann, U., Sturm, E., Eichner, B., Walter-Jung, B., Nikolaus, T.
Older people are particularly susceptible to falls and fractures due to mobility limitations and physical instability. Falls and fractures commonly result in functional deterioration, increased medical costs, and increased burden for all involved in the care setting. Attempts to prevent falls and reduce fall and fracture incidence rates both at home and in long-term care facilities span from educational interventions to adjustments of medication intake to environmental adaptations.
Added March 2014
Flooring as an intervention to reduce injuries from falls in healthcare settings: an overview
Issue 1
Volume 8
Pages 3-9
Author(s): Drahota, A., Gal, D., Windsor, J.
As the elderly population grows, the risk of falls in healthcare settings and of injuries resulting from falls will increase, as this population exhibits higher risk for falling due to age-related factors. Researchers have long focused on variables that impact fall prevention in healthcare settings; yet, since prevention of all falls is not possible, and about 30% of patient falls result in injury, there is growing interest in understanding strategies for injury prevention, to reduce the more serious cost and health implications of falls.
Added March 2014
Falls and Patient Mobility in Critical Care: Keeping Patients and Staff Safe
Issue 3
Volume 20
Pages 267-276
Author(s): Flanders, S. A., Harrington, L., Fowler, R. J.
A main priority in hospitals in the U.S. is ensuring both patient and staff safety throughout a patient’s stay. Falls are a major concern in hospitals, particularly in critical care units (ICUs), where nurses care for increasingly older populations that are prone to falls and injuries from falls. Another issue that arises in intensive care units is the decision of when it is safe to mobilize patients, a relevant consideration in relation to incidence of falls and durations of hospital stay.
Added March 2014
Adding additional grab bars as a possible strategy for safer hospital stays
2010
Applied Nursing Research
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 23
Pages 45-51
Author(s): Tzeng, H.-M., Yin, C.-Y., Schechtman,S.
Inpatient falls are the most commonly reported incidents in hospitals, yet they are largely avoidable and, therefore, an unsolved issue in patient care. It comes as no surprise that patient falls tend to occur most frequently in patient rooms, patient bathrooms, and hallways—the places in which patients spend the majority of their time during their hospital stay. Falls are attributed to breakdowns in communication between patients and caregivers, inadequate assistance, and also the design of the physical environment.
Added February 2014
Empowering staff nurses to use research to change practice for safe patient handling
2012
Nursing Outlook
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 60
Pages 157-162
Author(s): Krill, C., Staffileno, B.A. , Raven, C.
Nursing is one of the top 10 occupations for work-related musculoskeletal disorders, often stemming from patient handling, which is unpredictable and performed in awkward positions and unfavorable conditions. The authors of this paper created a safe patient handling or ergonomic program that combines patient-handling equipment and devices, education, patient care ergonomic assessment protocols, no-lift policies, and patient-lift teams.
Added January 2014
Falls Aren't Us: State of the Science
2009
Critical Care Nursing Quarterly
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 32
Pages 116-127
Author(s): Cozart, H. T., Cesario, S. K.
Falls among the elderly can cause serious injury and sometimes even be fatal. However, in healthcare settings, many of these accidents can be avoided with fall-prevention interventions. The ninth goal of The Joint Commission is environmental intervention and addresses safety features such as patients’ introduction to hospital surroundings, appropriate lighting and noise reduction, call alarms, as well as reachable and available grab rails.
Added January 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
Person-Environment Interactions Contributing to Nursing Home Resident Falls
2009
Research in Gerontological Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 2
Pages 287-294
Author(s): Hill, E. E., Nguyen, T. H., Shaha, M., Wenzel, J. A., DeForge, B. R., Spellbring, A. M.
Falls are common for older adults, with significant consequences, including injuries and even death as well as healthcare costs. However, few studies have looked at environmental factors, such as lighting, equipment, and slippery floor surfaces, as potential risk factors for falls by nursing home residents. This study explores the risk factors associated with resident falls in a nursing home using a focus group.
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
Achieving EBD Goals Through Flooring Selection & Design
Author(s): Nanda, Upali, Malone, Eileen, Joseph, Anjali
Added April 2013
Contribution of the Designed Environment to Fall Risk in Hospitals
Author(s): Calkins, Margaret P, Biddle, Stacey, Biesan, Orion
Added November 2012
Cost effectiveness of a medical vigilance system to reduce patient falls
2007
Nursing Economic$
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 25
Pages 333-338, 352
Author(s): Spetz, J., Jacobs, J., Hatler, C.
Patient falls refer to patients’ unplanned descent to the floor with or without injuries to the patients. Patient falls are a leading cause of injuries and death and contribute to healthcare cost increase. The prevention of patient falls is especially important in certain patients and settings such as post-neurosurgery units where patients are often confused. A variety of fall-prevention programs have been implemented by many hospitals. Some of such programs include environmental modifications in addition to educational and operation al changes.
Added October 2012
Does the type of flooring affect the risk of hip fracture?
2004
Age and Ageing
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 33
Pages 242-246
Author(s): Simpson, A. H. R. W. , Lamb, S. , Roberts, P. J. , Gardner, T.N. , Grimley, E.J.
Hip fractures are a serious consequence of falls, especially for aging populations. Number of hip fractures occuring worldwide is estimated to reach 6.3 million worldwide, by the year 2050. Conventionally the issue of fractures has been looked at in terms of intrinsic factors related to the patient. Extrinsic factors that could affect the impact, such as the floor (or surface of the impact) have not been investigated in great details. This UK based study seeks to fill this gap in the research.
Added October 2012
