J Korean Clin Nurs Res.  2017 Dec;23(3):350-360. 10.22650/JKCNR.2017.23.3.350.

Characteristics of Fall Events and Fall Risk Factors among Inpatients in General Hospitals in Korea

• Choi EH
• Ko MS
• Yoo CS
• Kim MK

• KMID: 2405625
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22650/JKCNR.2017.23.3.350

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the present status of falls among inpatients in general hospitals and to identify the fall risk factors that reflect the characteristics of domestic hospitals.
METHODS
Data were collected between December 15, 2016 and January 15, 2017 from 32 Korean hospitals having 500 or more beds. First, 42 risk factors were extracted based on literature review and expert opinions. Then the importance of each factor was evaluated by 223 nurses from medical and surgical adult ward and intensive care units in 40 hospitals.
RESULTS
The incidence rate of falls in 18 hospitals was 3.87 per 1,000 total discharged patients and 0.55 per 1,000 patient-days, and the rate of injury-related falls was 40.5%. Major risk factors for falling were identified as the following: being over 65 years of age, history of falls during admission, physical mobility disorders requiring assistance, physical factors (dizziness or vertigo, unstable gait, general weakness, walking aids, visual problems), cognitive factors (delirium, lack of understanding on limitations), neurological disease, CNS medications
CONCLUSION
The findings provide information that can be in the development of a fall risk assessment tool for inpatients in general hospitals in Korea.

Keyword

Hospital; Fall; Risk Factor; Inpatients; Adult

MeSH Terms

Accidental Falls
Adult
Audiovisual Aids
Expert Testimony
Gait
Hospitals, General*
Humans
Incidence
Inpatients*
Intensive Care Units
Korea*
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors*
Vertigo
Walking