Factors associated with falls among hospital inpatients

Characteristics of Inpatients With Blood Cancers Who Experience a Fall: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

Inpatients with cancer are at the greatest risk for falling. Although studies have identified the characteristics of patients with cancer who fall, few studies have focused on the characteristics of patients with blood cancers who fall.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study are to identify characteristics of inpatients with blood cancers who fall and implement fall-mitigation efforts through an enhanced assessment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

METHODS

Descriptive design and retrospective review of 51 patient falls were used to identify characteristics of inpatients with cancer who fell.

FINDINGS

The majority of patients who fell were male (n = 33), and most falls occurred during the day shift (n = 24). Few patients were listed on the Morse Fall Risk Scale for mental status and forgetting limitations (n = 7), and most were not identified as a high fall risk (n = 30). The majority of falls were associated with toileting needs (n = 32). Patients spent a mean of 12.73 days in the hospital before falling. Thirty-two patients received chemotherapy prior to their fall, 25 of whom received neurotoxic chemotherapy.

Use of toilet alarms in inpatient settings

PURPOSE

To investigate the use of toilet alarms among patients at an increased risk for falls in inpatient settings while allowing for privacy and maintaining safety.

METHODS

Pre- and postsurvey data were collected among patients in the intervention and control groups, as well as among the healthcare staff, to determine perceptions of privacy and safety.

RESULTS

Each participant group was compared according to the participants' responses to the pre- and postsurveys. On average, the intervention group perceived increased levels of privacy and safety compared with the control group. Staff also indicated increased privacy and safety.

CONCLUSION

Additional research is necessary, but patient satisfaction, privacy, and dignity may be augmented by using toilet alarms in hospital settings.