Factors associated with fall in nursing research

Factors associated with fall in nursing research

NURS 389: Nursing Research and Evidence-based Practice

Falls in hospitals among hospitalized patients is not a rare occurrence, and hospitals continue to identify patients that are at risk for falls and come up with measures to prevent these falls. Cox et al. (2014) indicate that this issue continues to be of significant concern in health care, considering more than 700,000 patients per year do fall while in hospitalization. The main objective of researchers Cox et al. (2014) was to examine intrinsic, extrinsic, and workforce factors that have a substantial role in the falls of hospitalized adult patients. The inherent risk factors that have been identified include impairment in mental health status, old age, visual disturbance, sedative usage, multiple comorbidities, among other factors, and these are specific to the health status of the patients. Some of the extrinsic risk factors that the researchers have cited are environmental obstacles and the impact they have in terms of facilitating or influencing falls. Such include electrical cords, inappropriate footwear, among others.

The researchers deployed a retrospective correlational design whereby 160 admitted patients were examined. These patients were admitted to a medical-surgical unit. Consequently, this study sample was subjected to analytical weighting, whereby bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. The researchers (Cox et al. 2014) found out that several aspects significantly the possibility of falls during hospitalization. These include age, drug or sedative usage, or overnight shift. Also, factors that decreased the likelihood of falls during hospitalization were identified, and some of them include cardiovascular diseases, fall prevention strategies implementation, evening shifts and neuromusculoskeletal disease.

Falls that occur in patients that is a widespread occurrence that threatens the safety of patients. Several factors cause these falls. This research provides knowledge to current literature regarding the predisposing factors causing falls among hospitalized patients. Precisely, the study has ascertained patient falls that are attributed to accidental, anticipated, unanticipated and intentional causes. Furthermore, the level of injury that is associated with these causes has been identified in conjunction with the existing associations in terms of demographic, patient, environmental and workforce factors. The literature review described by the researchers makes it possible to grasp the background and the significance of the study. Notably, aspects of fall categorization and some of the preventive strategies are explained with clarity. The researchers deployed a descriptive, correlational and retrospective study with analytical weightings that comprised bivariate and multivariate analysis (Cox et al. 2014).

Consequently, the statistical analysis used came up with factual results allowing readers to get the real impression regarding falls in hospitalized patients. It is also worth noting that the majority of the researchers had PHDs, which meant their capacity to conduct research was top notch. Also, validation tools were used to measure the risk score regarding falls and were crucial to the research. Notably, the common elements of a research article are evident, which include Abstract, Introduction, methods, design, results, discussion, and conclusion.

This research had its limitations, especially its retrospective nature. Therefore, this study lacked the aspect of participation, which could mean more clarity in terms of nature and circumstances associated with falls have not been provided. Also, the use of one site limits the reliability of the article in that generalization of the evidence becomes difficult.

This research article is, however, crucial such that key perspectives regarding falls in hospitalized patients are gained. Falls among patients can result in serious injuries and sometimes long-time effects, thus affecting the life quality of patients, which makes it crucial to learn about the predisposing factors and prevention measures. This research assessed the risk factors correctly, thereby giving insights into implementing preventive strategies that are tailored depending on the fall risk identified. In addition to this, it is clear that hospitals require a risk assessment tool that would predict the potential for falls with injury accurately, consequently improving patient health care.

References

Cox, J., Thomas-Hawkins, C., Pajarillo, E., DeGennaro, S., Cadmus, E., & Martinez, M. (2015). Factors associated with falls in hospitalized adult patients. Applied Nursing Research, 28(2), 78-82.