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Predicting falls using two instruments (the Hendrich Fall Risk Model and the Morse Fall Scale) in an acute care setting in Lebanon
Author(s) -
Nassar Nada,
Helou Nancy,
Madi Chantal
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of clinical nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1365-2702
pISSN - 0962-1067
DOI - 10.1111/jocn.12278
Subject(s) - medicine , falling (accident) , scale (ratio) , risk assessment , injury prevention , poison control , fall prevention , acute care , odds ratio , occupational safety and health , observational study , health care , suicide prevention , cross sectional study , logistic regression , emergency medicine , medical emergency , environmental health , geography , computer security , pathology , economic growth , computer science , economics , cartography
Aims and objectives To assess the predictive value of two instruments (the M orse F all S cale ( MFS ) and the H eindrich II F all R isk M odel ( HFRM )] in a M iddle E astern country ( L ebanon) and to evaluate the factors that are related to falls. Design A prospective observational cross‐sectional design was used. Background Falls and fall‐related injuries in the acute care settings contribute a substantial health and economic burden on patients and organisations. Preventing falls is a priority for most healthcare organisations. While the risk of falling cannot be eliminated, it can be significantly reduced through accurate assessment of patients' risk of falling. Methods Data from 1815 inpatients at the A merican U niversity of B eirut M edical C enter ( AUBMC ) in Lebanon were evaluated using two instruments to predict falls: the MFS and the HFRM . Results The incidence of falls was 2·7% in one year. The results indicate that while the instruments were significantly correlated, the HFRM was more sensitive in predicting falls than the MFS . The internal consistency of both scales was moderate, but inter‐rater reliability was high. Patients using antiepileptic drugs and assistance devises had higher odds of falling. Conclusions Although both instruments were easy to use in a M iddle E astern country, the HFRM rather than the MFS is recommended for inpatients in an acute care setting as it had higher sensitivity and specificity. Relevance to clinical practice It is recommended that while the HFRM had adequate sensitivity, it is not seamless, and as such, nurses should not rely entirely on it. Rather, nurses should use their expert clinical judgement, their ethical obligations and cultural considerations to implement a safer environment of care for the patient.