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Falls risk factors in the hospital setting: A systematic review
Author(s) -
Evans David,
Hodgkinson Brent,
Lambert Leonnie,
Wood Jacquelin
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
international journal of nursing practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.62
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1440-172X
pISSN - 1322-7114
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-172x.2001.00269.x
Subject(s) - cinahl , toileting , medicine , cochrane library , falling (accident) , medline , systematic review , fear of falling , falls in older adults , fall prevention , gerontology , poison control , injury prevention , physical therapy , emergency medicine , activities of daily living , psychiatry , randomized controlled trial , psychological intervention , surgery , political science , law
The objective of this systematic review was to summarize the best available evidence on the factors that increase the risk of patients falling during hospitalization. Studies included in the review were those that involved adult patients in hospital, that attempted to identify risk factors for falling, and used a cohort or case‐control research design. The search strategy covered all major databases and including MEDLINE, CINAHL, Current Contents, Psyclit, Embase and the Cochrane Library. Results were summarized by a narrative discussion, identifying risk factors that were commonly identified in a range of practice settings. Eighteen papers met the review inclusion criteria and are reported in this paper. Factors associated with an increased risk of falling include impaired mental status, special toileting needs, impaired mobility, and a history of falling. While findings are contradictory, it appears that both medications and advanced age will also influence a patient's risk of falling.