Comparison of three fall risk assessment tools in older hospitalized patients in Turkey: analysis of sensitivity and specificity

Investigation of factors associated with pressure ulcer in patients receiving home care services via path analysis

BACKGROUND

Recent trends indicate a rise in the number of elderly and bedridden patients enrolled in home care programs, leading to an increased occurrence of complications such as pressure ulcers within the home health care setting.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this research was to ascertain the prevalence of pressure ulcers and identify the associated factors in adults who were recipients of home health care services.

METHOD

This study, adopting a cross-sectional design, encompassed a sample of 566 patients who sought services from the Home Health Care Unit in a specific province in Turkey. The timeframe for data collection spanned from August to November 2022, during which two primary instruments were employed: the "Demographic Characteristics Form" and two specific scales - the "Braden Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Scale" and the "ITAKI Falls Risk Scale."

FINDINGS

In this study, the average age of patients receiving home health care services was identified as 75.9 years, with a standard deviation of 15.1 years. Furthermore, 73.7 % of these patients were classified as being at risk for developing pressure ulcers. The study identified a direct correlation between the risk of BRADEN pressure ulcers and the escalation in scores across several parameters. These parameters included "Addiction Status," delineated as a spectrum from addicted to non-addicted, the "Number of Medical Diagnoses," quantified on a scale, the "State of Consciousness," categorized from clear to confused, and the scores derived from the "ITAKI" scale.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study highlight the significance of pressure ulcers as a critical health issue among patients receiving home care services. It underscores the necessity for home care nurses to be acutely aware of the risk factors associated with pressure ulcers among high-risk patients.

Nurses' perspectives on inpatient falls in a large academic hospital in South Africa

BACKGROUND

Falls risk assessment tools, including the Morse Falls Scale, have been used for years, and yet falls remain key adverse events in hospitals. Nurses are key role players in falls prevention and can champion patient safety.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to explore ward nurses' attitudes, knowledge and practices regarding the use of falls risk assessment tools, institutional falls policy and falls prevention.

METHODS

A survey design was used. All permanent ward nurses were eligible to participate, and a convenience sample was used.

RESULTS

Nurses endorsed the Morse Falls Scale, recommended by institutional policy, as effective in reducing falls and indicated that incident reporting measured progress on monitoring fall events. Falls prevention training was scanty; however, nurses were keen for further education of falls.

CONCLUSION

Effective falls risk management needs to extend beyond promulgating policy and actively address nursing and patient education.Contribution: This study adds to the sparse literature regarding nursing practice and falls prevention in a developing country. Recommendations for change have been made.