Falls in A Tertiary Care Hospital-Association With Delirium: A Replication Study.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2016
Institution/Department
Geriatrics, Nursing, Surgery
Journal Title
Psychosomatics
MeSH Headings
Accidental Falls, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Delirium, Female, Hospitalization, Hospitals, General, Hospitals, Teaching, Hospitals, Urban, Humans, Length of Stay, Male, Middle Aged, Prevalence, Retrospective Studies, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Tertiary Care Centers, Young Adult
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Delirium has been previously implicated as a risk factor for patient falls. This is a replication study of a 2009 investigation examining the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed delirium in patients who fell during their hospital stay.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of delirium at our institution and to examine the relationship of falls with delirium, advanced age, and hospital procedures.
METHOD: Using the data collection tool developed for the 2009 study, the authors performed a retrospective review of records of 99 patients who fell during their inpatient stay. Similar information was gathered on patient demographics, fall date, fall location, hospital service type, discharge disposition, diagnosis of delirium (DD), synonyms used to describe delirium, metabolic derangements, and surgeries or procedures performed. Data were collected on the day of admission, day of the fall, and 2 days before the fall.
RESULTS: Falls in the general hospital were associated with delirium (73% of subjects had evidence or a DD at the time of their fall), advanced age (64.5% were older than 70 years), and specific procedures and surgeries.
CONCLUSION: As identified in the previous study, improving delirium recognition and treatment may reduce the number of patient falls and promote more favorable outcomes such as reduced length of stay, fewer discharges to intermediate care facilities, and prevention of fall injuries. A comprehensive fall risk assessment that includes a delirium detection tool would improve the sensitivity and specificity of these instruments to detect those at greatest risk.
ISSN
1545-7206
First Page
273
Last Page
282
Recommended Citation
Babine, Rhonda L; Hyrkäs, Kristiina E; Bachand, Deborah A; Chapman, Joanne L; Fuller, Valerie J; Honess, Cynthia A; and Wierman, Heidi R, "Falls in A Tertiary Care Hospital-Association With Delirium: A Replication Study." (2016). Maine Medical Center. 762.
https://knowledgeconnection.mainehealth.org/mmc/762
