Resumen

Objective: To determine whether a falls prevention program reduces the incidence of falls within a hospital. Materials and Methods: Each patient admitted to the Internal Medicine ward was classified into a risk category (high, medium, low) according to the scale of J.H. Downton, and then various general and specific measures were applied by risk group. Interventions included appointments, teaching materials, and training of medical staff and family. Furthermore, a registration system was developed that allowed adverse event feedback to the program and identification of the causes of the fall. The SPSS version 20.0 was used for the data analysis. Descriptive analysis wasused for quantitative variables, and qualitative variables were expressed as proportions. To compare the rate of pre- and post-program implementation falls, χ² was used, with a p = 0.05 determining a significant statistical value. Results: Since the implementation of the program, the rate of falls per 1000 days/patient decreased from 1.9 in 2007 to 0.67 in the period 2008‑2013, representing a decrease of the rate of falls of up to 70%, with a statistically significant difference (P=.02). Conclusions: The implementation of a falls prevention program is an effective tool and reduces the rate and complications associated with them.

Palabras clave: Fall prevention; implementation; hospital.

2015-01-27   |   2,725 visitas   |   Evalua este artículo 0 valoraciones

Vol. 16 Núm.65. Octubre-Diciembre 2014 Pags. 156-160 Med Univer 2014; 16(65)