Evaluation of Fall Incidents in Inpatient Wards: A Retrospective Study From a City Hospital
Özkan Adıgüzel1, Gülcan Özdemir Mavi2, Büşra Güngör3, Tuğba Yazıcıoğlu Demirci4, Sema Nur Tazegül5, Serdare Albay6, Hülya Altun7, Nursen Karadoğan Ceylan8, Mehmet Çetin4, Sultan Fatma Bila91Department of Research Nursing, Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye2Department of Education Nursing, Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
3Department of Health Board, Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
4Department of Thoracic Surgery, Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
5Department of Cardiology, Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
6General Intensive Care Unit, Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
7Department of Health Care Services Director, Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
8Department of Pediatrics, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
9Department of Cardiovasculer Intensive Care, Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
INTRODUCTION: This study aims to investigate the factors contributing to falls among hospitalized patients
and to evaluate the efficacy of preventive measures by analyzing root cause analyses.
METHODS: Fall incidents occurring in the Chest, Heart, and Vascular Hospital wards in 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic data of the patients, information related to the individuals and areas involved in the falls, as well as post-fall pathologies and educational documents, were also examined. Falls were assessed using the ITAKI Fall Risk Scale, which was completed for all inpatients, alongside the routinely utilized Fall Incident Report Form and Root Analysis Record Form specifically for all cases.
RESULTS: A total of 30 fall incidents were evaluated, with a mean age of 72.73 ± 11.75 years (minimum: 53, maximum: 90), of which 60% (n: 18) were male. Twenty-six patients (87%) had an education level of primary school or lower. Fourteen falls (46.7%) occurred between 24.00 and 08.00 hours, and in 22 cases (73.3%), there was no caregiver present at the time of the fall.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicated that men have a higher risk of falling, the risk of falls increasing with age, and despite the education provided prior to the fall incidents and the implementation of protective safety measures, a greater number of falls were observed in patients due to individual factors.
Manuscript Language: English