JNSS 2018, 9(3-4):111-120 | DOI: 10.32725/jnss.2018.012

Retrospective analysis of patient falls as a basis for evidence-based practice

Jana Horová^1,2,*, Iva Brabcová², Nina Müllerová³

¹ University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

² University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Faculty of Health Care Studies, Plzeň, Czech Republic

³ University Hospital in Pilsen, Plzeň, Czech Republic

Aims: The aim of this work was to perform a five-year retrospective analysis of patient falls at the Regional University Hospital, as a basis for preventive programme implementation based on the evidence-based practice.

Methods: The obtained data were processed by quantitative research methods. Descriptive statistics were obtained from patient fall report forms that were completed mandatorily over a five-year period. In the next phase, data correlation was performed, and areas in which the preventive anti-fall programmes are performed were determined at the significance level of 5%. The Stata of version 13 was used. The SPSS Answer Tree of version 3.1 was used to identify risk groups.

Results: The Regional University Hospital is one of the largest healthcare facilities in the Czech Republic, with 1,729 beds and 4,480 employees. The analysis included a total of 2,280 patient falls that occurred over the five-year period. The data obtained by the descriptive statistics were correlated with the fall-risk area (chi-squared test). The statistically significant relationships seemed to be: year of monitoring, department, type of ward, age, mental condition, medication use, antipsychotics, cardiovascular drugs, diuretics, medication category, circumstances of fall, patient cooperation, patient mobility and post-fall development.

Conclusion: The processing of patient fall incidence information as one of the most common adverse events in a hospital is relevant for national and transnational comparison. It may be an inspirational incentive for a more effective programme to prevent falls and fall-related injuries in other healthcare facilities.

Keywords: Adverse event; Evidence-based practice; Fall; Hospital; Patient; Retrospective analysis

Received: July 2, 2018; Accepted: October 22, 2018; Published: September 1, 2018  Show citation