Prevention of falls in Hospitalized Geriatric Patients
Randeniyage, Sahan; Perera, Willorage (2024)
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024101326399
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024101326399
Tiivistelmä
Hospitalized geriatric patients are known to have higher rates of falls due to procedures, acute sickness frailty and other comorbid illnesses. Therefore, fall prevention strategies are designed to assist hospitalized geriatric patients to make improvements in terms of their general wellbeing. As accountable professionals, nurses can significantly enhance the quality of care for the elderly.
The purpose of this study was to conduct a descriptive literature review to describe the identified risk factors contributing to falls among hospitalized geriatric patients. Whereas, the aim of this study was to produce new knowledge to develop awareness among nurses in order to minimize falls among hospitalized geriatric patients. Eight articles that underwent content analysis were carefully selected from reliable platforms such as CINAHL and Medline.
The findings from the articles revealed risk factors contributing to falls and prevention methods that could be implemented. The risk factors were mainly categorized into two, namely intrinsic and extrinsic. The intrinsic risk factors included age, gender, medication, visual impairment, multiple diagnosis, history of falls and extrinsic factors included environmental concern and level of education. Besides, fall prevention methods were mentioned as nursing interventions to emphasize the importance of risk assessment in hospitalized geriatric patients.
The purpose of this study was to conduct a descriptive literature review to describe the identified risk factors contributing to falls among hospitalized geriatric patients. Whereas, the aim of this study was to produce new knowledge to develop awareness among nurses in order to minimize falls among hospitalized geriatric patients. Eight articles that underwent content analysis were carefully selected from reliable platforms such as CINAHL and Medline.
The findings from the articles revealed risk factors contributing to falls and prevention methods that could be implemented. The risk factors were mainly categorized into two, namely intrinsic and extrinsic. The intrinsic risk factors included age, gender, medication, visual impairment, multiple diagnosis, history of falls and extrinsic factors included environmental concern and level of education. Besides, fall prevention methods were mentioned as nursing interventions to emphasize the importance of risk assessment in hospitalized geriatric patients.