Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Nursing

Advisor

Leslie Hussey

Abstract

Despite consistent efforts in the healthcare field, 700,000 to 1 million patients fall in hospitals each year. There is a gap in the literature regarding identification of optimal bundles of fall prevention interventions (FPIs) for patients by type, and though patients of all ages fall in hospitals, older adults fall more, which may mean that the influence of FPIs may differ for patients by age. The purpose of this descriptive, retrospective, quantitative secondary data analysis study, guided by Virginia Henderson’s need theory, was to examine the differences in the influence of bundled FPIs in reducing the number of falls (NOF) in hospitalized older (60 years and older) and younger patients (59 years and younger). De-identified falls data from 2017-2019 of 1,963 cases were analyzed using an independent t-test and two-way ANOVA to examine the differences of mean NOF among hospitalized older (n = 258) and younger patients (n = 331) who were and were not on FPIs. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean NOF of older adults versus younger adults and or between the mean NOF of older adults on the FPI bundle versus younger adults on the FPI bundle. The greater number of younger adults who fell compared to older adults may suggest that the bundle of FPIs (non-skid socks, yellow wrist band, assessment/re-assessment of fall risk score using Morse Fall Scale, and bed alarms) are more efficient in reducing NOF in older adults. Future research could focus on examining what bundles of FPIs have the greatest reduction in falls in young adults and in the elderly population. The findings of this study can effect positive social change by demonstrating that FPI bundles are effective for older patients and that patients under 60 may need different strategies to prevent falls.

Download

Included in

Nursing Commons

Share

 
COinS