J Korean Crit Care Nurs.  2019 Feb;12(1):57-70. 10.0000/jkccn.2019.12.1.57.

Risk Factors for Falls in Tertiary Hospital Inpatients: A Survival Analysis

• Cho YS
• Lee YO
• Youn YS

• KMID: 2441180
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jkccn.2019.12.1.57

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for falls in tertiary hospital inpatients and to suggest data for developing a nursing intervention program for preventing falls.
METHODS
Data were collected between January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017. Kaplan-Meier estimation was used to measure the survival rate, and the log-rank test was used for the differences between the fall group and the non-fall group. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify the risk factors for falls.
RESULTS
The incidence rate of falls for the inpatients was 1.2 cases per 1,000 days of hospitalization. The risk factors for falls were more likely to be found among those who were aged ≥81, had not undergone surgery, had poor joint motion, had unsteady gait, needed help or supervision, used assistive devices, had comorbidity, and took at least two drugs.
CONCLUSION
For the inpatients, the risk factors for falls included age, surgery, comorbidity, medication that could change mobility, joint motion, and use of patient care equipment. It is necessary to give special attention to inpatients who have any of these risk factors and to develop a falls risk assessment tool.

Keyword

Accidental falls; Tertiary care centers; Inpatients; Survival analysis; Risk factors

MeSH Terms

Accidental Falls*
Comorbidity
Gait Disorders, Neurologic
Hospitalization
Humans
Incidence
Inpatients*
Joints
Nursing
Organization and Administration
Patient Care
Proportional Hazards Models
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors*
Self-Help Devices
Survival Analysis*
Survival Rate
Tertiary Care Centers*