Falls Prevention in Hospitals-the Need for a New Approach an Integrative Article

Abstract

Currently, around the world, hospitals invest a considerable amount of effort into preventing patients' falls during hospitalization. Despite the intensive emphasis targeted in preventive intervention, reducing the prevalence of this phenomenon has been limited. At present, hospitals focus on measuring risk of fall rates based on specific and rigid risk assessment scales which are mainly focused on the assessment of the patient's medical condition, mobility, mental status, toileting, history of falls and medication therapy. Fall prevention programs are based on the above mentioned key factors, which focus on standard safety procedures associated with both patient's condition and hospital environment. The purpose of this article is to describe the current developments on this topic and to suggest an additional direction of thinking strategy that includes three parts: i. Engaging the patient into the assessment process to evaluate his/her medical condition and his/her perception of personal fall risk. ii. Creating a customized/personalized fall prevention program for patients susceptible to falls. iii. Evaluate the patient's intentions and ability to engage in the required behavior to prevent falls based on the Prevention program. This new approach of incorporating all of the three elements may be the basis for decision-makers on a national and local level to formulate a new hospital policy and procedures to deal with patients’ falls, on the basis of a comprehensive understanding of this long-standing concern.