J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs.  2019 Feb;26(1):1-11. 10.7739/jkafn.2019.26.1.1.

Triggers and Outcomes of Falls in Hematology Patients: Analysis of Electronic Health Records

• Jung MK
• Lee SM

• KMID: 2441484
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7739/jkafn.2019.26.1.1

Abstract

PURPOSE
The goal was to use electronic health records to identify factors and outcomes associated with falls among patients admitted to hematology units.
METHODS
This retrospective case-control study included data from a tertiary university hospital. Analysis was done of records from 117 patients with a history of falls and 201 patients with no history of falls who were admitted to the hematology unit from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014. Risk factors were analyzed using hierarchical logistic regression; patient outcomes were analyzed using multiple logistic regression, Cox proportional hazards regression, and multiple linear regression.
RESULTS
Clinical factors such as self-care nursing (OR=4.47, CI=1.64~12.11), leukopenia (OR=6.03; CI=2.51~14.50), and hypoalbuminemia (OR=2.79, CI=1.31~5.96); treatment factors such as use of narcotics (OR=2.06, CI=1.01~4.19), antipsychotics (OR=3.05, CI=1.20~7.75), and steroids (OR=4.51, CI=1.92~10.58); and patient factors such as low education (OR=3.16, CI=1.44~6.94) were significant risk factors. Falls were also associated with increased length of hospital stay to 21.58 days (p < .001), and healthcare costs of 17,052,784 Won (p < .001).
CONCLUSION
These findings can be a resource for fall prevention education and to help develop fall risk assessment tools for adults admitted to hematology units.

Keyword

Accidental falls; Risk factors; Hematology; Length of stay; Health care costs

MeSH Terms

Accidental Falls*
Adult
Antipsychotic Agents
Case-Control Studies
Education
Electronic Health Records*
Health Care Costs
Hematology*
Humans
Hypoalbuminemia
Length of Stay
Leukopenia
Linear Models
Logistic Models
Narcotics
Nursing
Retrospective Studies
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Self Care
Steroids
Antipsychotic Agents
Narcotics
Steroids