Fall Prevention and Injury Reduction Utilizing Virtual Sitters in Hospitalized Patients: A Literature Review

Beyond the Bedside: Decoding Patient Profiles for Smarter Virtual Patient Observation

BACKGROUND

Emerging evidence suggests that virtual patient observation (VPO) may help promote patient safety.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine and describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who incurred VPO.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted. Differences in total VPO hours between groups were examined, followed by a hierarchical regression to investigate the effect of predictor variables on VPO utilization variance.

RESULTS

A total of 286 patient charts were reviewed. Mean VPO hours were higher in patients with an intensive care unit admission history. Adjusted for gender and history of dementia/Alzheimer's/memory impairment, the prediction of total VPO hours increased with the patient's intensive care unit admission history and overall hospital length of stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Examining the prevalence and variability in the pattern of VPO utilization by specific patient characteristics is essential for identifying what patients could best benefit from this technology.

Investigation and analysis of high risk factors of falls in hospitalised patients after vascular surgery

AIM

To analyse the risk factors for falls in vascular patients and methods to mitigate fall risk in hospitalised patients receiving vascular surgery.

DESIGN

This study is a multicentre, retrospective study.

METHODS

A total of 112 inpatients that underwent vascular surgery in five hospitals in Shanxi Province from April 2018 to April 2022 were selected. They were divided into two groups according to whether they had fallen or not; 56 patients who fell were taken as the observation group and 56 patients who did not fall were taken as the control group. The risk factors of falls were analysed by univariate and logistic regression.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the observation and the control groups in male patients and the incidence of falls without family members. In the observation group, the percentage of patients aged ≥65 years old, with a history of falls and/or fractures, long-term medications and a history of osteoporosis was higher than in the control group and showed a statistically significant difference. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age, a history of falls and fractures, long-term medications and a history of osteoporosis were independent risk factors for falls, and the differences were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Older age, a history of falls and/or fractures, continuous medication for more than 3 months and a history of osteoporosis are the risk factors for falls in hospitalised patients undergoing vascular surgery.