Preventing falls with remote video monitoring

Nurses' Perceptions of Telemonitoring Devices to Reduce Falls Among Hospitalized Patients: A Literature Review

PURPOSE

Technological advances have led to the adoption of telemonitoring devices for fall prevention. Multiple previous studies looked at the effectiveness of these devices. However, few studies looked at nursing staff perceptions of the technology. The current integrated literature review examined factors that influence nurses' and nursing staff's acceptance of telemonitoring technology for fall prevention.

METHOD

Three databases (CINAHL, Embase, and PubMed) were searched from January 2010 through September 2023. Study themes were analyzed, and study quality was appraised. Thirteen articles were identified and analyzed.

RESULTS

Nurses' perceptions included positive, negative, and mixed views of tele-monitoring technology. Key factors influencing staff perceptions of telemonitoring technology include the effectiveness of the technology at improving patient safety, its ease of use, and the degree to which staff felt supported by nursing leadership and hospital administration.

CONCLUSION

Findings demonstrate the importance of involving nurses in decisions regarding implementation of new technology. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(4), 6-10.].

The Effectiveness of Remote Video Monitoring on Fall Prevention and Nurses' Acceptance

BACKGROUND

The use of remote visual monitoring (RVM) technology as a "telesitter" in hospitals can reduce falls and increase the efficiency of patient observation.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to examine RVM effectiveness as a strategy to decrease patient falls and investigate nurses' acceptance and perceived usefulness of RVM technology.

METHODS

Remote visual monitoring was implemented within a health system in the Southeastern United States. Falls data 6 months prior to and postimplementation were analyzed, and 106 nurses completed a survey evaluating their acceptance of the RVM technology.

RESULTS

There was a significant 39.15% reduction in falls with injury ( P = .006), and 70.6% of the RVM redirections were successful. Nurses' acceptance and perceived usefulness of RVM were moderate.

CONCLUSION

Implementing RVM has the potential to enhance patient safety by reducing falls with injuries and is considered acceptable and useful by nurses.

Preventing Patient Falls Overnight Using Video Monitoring: A Clinical Evaluation

Inpatient falls are devastating for patients and their families and an ongoing problem for healthcare providers worldwide. Inpatient falls overnight are particularly difficult to predict and prevent. The aim of this cohort study was to evaluate effectiveness of overnight portable video monitoring as an adjunct falls prevention strategy for high falls risk patients in inpatient clinical units. Over three months, three clinical inpatient wards were provided with baby monitor equipment to facilitate portable video monitoring. Portable video monitoring registers were completed nightly and nursing staff were invited to complete surveys (n = 31) to assess their experiences of using portable video monitoring. A total of 494 episodes of portable video monitoring were recorded over the three-month period, with clinical areas reporting a total of four inpatient falls from monitoring participants (0.8% of total portable video monitoring episodes). Overall, there was a statistically significant reduction in total inpatient falls overnight on the target wards. Surveyed nursing staff reported feeling better equipped to prevent falls and indicated they would like to continue using portable monitoring as a falls prevention strategy. This study provides evidence to support the use of portable video monitoring as an effective falls prevention strategy in the hospital environment.