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An Analysis of Falls in the Hospital: Can We Do Without Bedrails?
Author(s) -
Hanger H.C.,
Ball M.C.,
Wood L.A.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1999.tb02565.x
Subject(s) - medicine , rehabilitation , injury prevention , occupational safety and health , poison control , physical therapy , prospective cohort study , human factors and ergonomics , fall prevention , suicide prevention , intervention (counseling) , emergency medicine , surgery , nursing , pathology
OBJECTIVES : To determine the effects of introduction of a bedrail policy, and an educational program, on patient falls and fall‐related injuries. DESIGN : A prospective “Before and After” design. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING : All patients admitted during 1 calendar year in an assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation unit for older people. INTERVENTION : A policy change for the use of bedrails (restricting their use) and an educational program about their effects. MEASUREMENTS : Patient fall rates ‐ all falls and around the bed falls — and patient and staff injuries. RESULTS : There was a significant reduction in the number of beds with bedrails attached after the policy introduction (mean of 40/135 vs 18.5/135, respectively, P = .02), but the fall rate (either total or around the bed) did not change significantly. Serious injuries were significantly less common after the bedrail policy was introduced (P = .008), with fewer head injuries. CONCLUSIONS : Reducing the use of bedrails did not alter patient fall rates significantly, but it was associated with a reduction in serious injuries. Unless it can be shown that bedrails are beneficial, their continued use in older patients must be seriously questioned. J Am Geriatr Soc 47:529–531, 1999.