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Francis-Coad J, Hill AM, Jacques A, Chandler AM, Richey PA, Mion LC, Shorr RI. Association Between Characteristics of Injurious Falls and Fall Preventive Interventions in Acute Medical and Surgical Units. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2020; 75:e152-e158. [PMID: 31996903 PMCID: PMC7750680 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glaa032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hospital falls remain common and approximately 30% of falls in hospital result in injury. The aims of the study were the following: (i) to identify the association between fall interventions present at the time of the injurious fall and injurious faller characteristics and (ii) to identify the association between fall preventive interventions present at the time of the injurious fall and the injurious fall circumstances. METHODS Secondary data analysis of deidentified case series of injurious falls across 24 acute medical/surgical units in the United States. Variables of interest were falls prevention interventions (physical therapy, bed alarm, physical restraint, room change, or a sitter) in place at the time of fall. Data were analyzed using logistic regression and hazard ratios. RESULTS There were 1,033 patients with an injurious fall, occurrence peaked between Day 1 and Day 4, with 46.8% of injurious falls having occurred by Day 3 of admission. Injurious fallers with a recorded mental state change 24 hours prior to the fall were more likely to have a bed alarm provided (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.61, 4.08) and receive a physical restraint as fall prevention interventions (adjusted OR 6.36, 95% CI 4.35, 9.30). Injurious fallers restrained fell later (stay Day 6) than those without a restraint (stay Day 4) (p = .007) and had significantly longer lengths of stay (13 days vs 9 days). CONCLUSIONS On medical/surgical units, injurious falls occur early following admission suggesting interventions should be commenced immediately. Injurious fallers who had a physical restraint as an intervention had longer lengths of stay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Francis-Coad
- School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
- School of Physiotherapy and Institute of Health Research, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle
| | - Anne-Marie Hill
- School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Angela Jacques
- School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | | | - Phyllis A Richey
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis
| | - Lorraine C Mion
- Center of Healthy Aging, Self-Management and Complex Care, The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus
| | - Ronald I Shorr
- Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, Florida
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville
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Hill AM, Jacques A, Chandler AM, Richey PA, Mion LC, Shorr RI. In-Hospital Sequelae of Injurious Falls in 24 Medical/Surgical Units in Four Hospitals in the United States. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2018; 45:91-97. [PMID: 30269964 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2018.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Up to 50% of patient falls in the hospital result in injury. This study was conducted to determine whether injurious falls were associated with increased hospital length of stay (LOS), discharge to a place other than home, and in-hospital mortality. METHODS A secondary data analysis from a prospective case-control study was conducted in 24 medical/surgical units in four hospitals in the United States. Patients who fell and sustained an injury were matched with at least one control patient who was on the same unit, at the same time, for a similar number of days on the unit at the time of the fall. Data were collected by viewing patients' electronic health records, as well as the hospitals' incident reporting systems. Logistic regression and Cox regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS The 1,033 patients (mean age, 63.7 years; 510 males [49.4%]) who sustained an injurious fall were matched with 1,206 controls (mean age, 61.6 years; 486 males [40.3%]). Fallers were significantly more likely than controls to stay longer than 10 days in the hospital (odds ratio [OR], 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.46-1.74) and to be discharged to a place other than home (OR, 1.52; 95% CI = 1.21-1.91). CONCLUSION Compared to controls, hospital patients who sustained an injurious fall had longer LOS and were more likely discharged to a place other than home. These associations remained when controlling for patient-level confounders, suggesting that the fall altered trajectory was sustained toward these outcomes. Injurious falls were not significantly associated with increased risk of mortality.
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Fehlberg EA, Lucero RJ, Weaver MT, McDaniel AM, Chandler AM, Richey PA, Mion LC, Shorr RI. Impact of the CMS No-Pay Policy on Hospital-Acquired Fall Prevention Related Practice Patterns. Innov Aging 2018; 1. [PMID: 29911187 PMCID: PMC6002153 DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igx036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives In October 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stopped reimbursing hospitals for costs related to patient falls. This study aimed to examine whether the CMS no-pay policy influenced four fall prevention practices: bed alarms, sitters, room changes, and physical restraints. Research Design and Methods Using electronic medical record data collected from four hospitals between 2005 and 2010, this secondary observational analysis examined the associations between the CMS no-pay policy and nursing interventions and medical orders related to fall prevention. Multivariable generalized linear mixed models with logit link function and accommodation for matching was used to assess the associations between the CMS no-pay policy and nursing interventions and medical orders. Results After the CMS policy change, nurses were more likely to perform one or more fall-related interventions (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.667; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.097–2.534). Of the four prevention practices, the use of bed alarms (aOR: 2.343; 95% CI: 1.409–3.897) increased significantly after the CMS policy change. Discussion and Implications The CMS no-pay policy increased utilization of fall prevention strategies despite little evidence that these measures prevent falls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Fehlberg
- Division of Research on Healthcare Value, Equity, and the Lifespan, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Robert J Lucero
- Departments of Biobehavioral Nursing and Family, Community, and Health System Science, University of Florida College of Nursing, Gainesville.,Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville.,Center for Latin American Studies, University of Florida, Gainesville
| | - Michael T Weaver
- Departments of Biobehavioral Nursing and Family, Community, and Health System Science, University of Florida College of Nursing, Gainesville
| | - Anna M McDaniel
- Departments of Biobehavioral Nursing and Family, Community, and Health System Science, University of Florida College of Nursing, Gainesville
| | | | - Phyllis A Richey
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis
| | - Lorraine C Mion
- Center of Excellence in Critical and Complex Care, The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus
| | - Ronald I Shorr
- Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville.,Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Centers (GRECC), Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, Florida.,Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville
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Fehlberg EA, Lucero RJ, Weaver MT, McDaniel AM, Chandler AM, Richey PA, Mion LC, Shorr RI. Associations between hyponatraemia, volume depletion and the risk of falls in US hospitalised patients: a case-control study. BMJ Open 2017; 7:e017045. [PMID: 28790043 PMCID: PMC5724091 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine if abnormal laboratory values which may indicate volume depletion are associated with increased odds of experiencing a hospital-acquired fall. DESIGN Matched case-control study. SETTING Four hospitals located in the Southeast USA. PARTICIPANTS Data from 699 adult fallers and 1189 matched controls (non-fallers) were collected via chart review from 2005 to 2010. Controls were matched to cases by nursing unit, time of fall and length of stay. OUTCOME MEASURES The primary exposures included serum sodium, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, BUN/creatinine ratio and haematocrit. Conditional logistic regression with m:n matching was used to determine adjusted and unadjusted ORs. RESULTS Serum sodium levels were strongly associated with falls. In models controlling for demographic and other fall risk factors, patients with serum sodium levels of 125 mEq/L or less were associated with increased odds of experiencing a fall as compared with those with serum sodium levels of greater than 134 mEq/L (adjusted OR (aOR)=5.08, 95% CI 1.43 to 18.08). Conversely, elevated BUN, creatinine and elevated BUN/creatinine ratios were not associated with increased odds of experiencing a fall (aOR=0.64, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.84; aOR=0.70, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.92 and aOR=0.77, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.04, respectively.) CONCLUSIONS: Laboratory indices that may indicate volume depletion appear to be unrelated to falls. However, hyponatraemia does appear to be a risk factor for falls, and those with serum sodium levels below 126 mEq/L are at especially high risk. It may be that other deficits associated with hyponatraemia, like altered mental status, are associated with risk of experiencing a hospital-acquired fall. These results indicate that abnormal laboratory values, like low sodium, can be useful for identifying hospitalised patients at risk of falling. Therefore, further investigation into abnormal laboratory values as predictors of hospital-acquired falls is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Fehlberg
- Departments of Biobehavioral Nursing and Family, Community, and Health System Science, University of Florida College of Nursing, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Division of Research on Healthcare Value, Equity, and the Lifespan, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Robert J Lucero
- Departments of Biobehavioral Nursing and Family, Community, and Health System Science, University of Florida College of Nursing, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (CINDRR), Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Michael T Weaver
- Departments of Biobehavioral Nursing and Family, Community, and Health System Science, University of Florida College of Nursing, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Anna M McDaniel
- Departments of Biobehavioral Nursing and Family, Community, and Health System Science, University of Florida College of Nursing, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | | | - Phyllis A Richey
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Lorraine C Mion
- Center of Excellence in Critical and Complex Care, The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Ronald I Shorr
- Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Centers (GRECC), Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Waters TM, Chandler AM, Mion LC, Daniels MJ, Kessler LA, Miller ST, Shorr RI. Use of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, codes to identify inpatient fall-related injuries. J Am Geriatr Soc 2013; 61:2186-2191. [PMID: 24329820 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.12539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare falls and fall-related injuries that a fall evaluator or hospital incident report identified with injuries identified according to discharge International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes for the same set of inpatient episodes of care. DESIGN Prospective, descriptive study. SETTING Sixteen adult general medical and surgical units in a major urban teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS All adults who sustained a fall with injury during a 5-year period (380 falls with injury). MEASUREMENTS Falls that a fall evaluator or hospital incident report identified were classified according to their injury severity. Discharge abstracts provided diagnosis codes (ICD-9-CM) for the discharge, including fall-related injury codes. RESULTS Three hundred forty-three inpatient falls with injury (90.2%) resulted in temporary harm to the individual; the remaining 37 falls (9.8%) resulted in more-serious harm. Sixteen of the 37 falls with injury extending hospitalization or resulting in death were identified using Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)-targeted injury code ranges combined with present-on-admission indicators. Of the 21 falls with injury that were not identified, nine (42.9%) lacked documentation of any injury, and seven (33.3%) identified other injuries outside the CMS-targeted injury code ranges. CONCLUSION The CMS-targeted ICD-9-CM codes used to identify fall-related injuries in claims data do not always detect the most-serious falls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa M Waters
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | | | | | - Michael J Daniels
- Division of Statistics and Scientific Computation and Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | | | - Stephen T Miller
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Ronald I Shorr
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida.,Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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Shorr RI, Chandler AM, Mion LC, Waters TM, Liu M, Daniels MJ, Kessler LA, Miller ST. Effects of an intervention to increase bed alarm use to prevent falls in hospitalized patients: a cluster randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 2012; 157:692-9. [PMID: 23165660 PMCID: PMC3549269 DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-157-10-201211200-00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bed alarm systems intended to prevent hospital falls have not been formally evaluated. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether an intervention aimed at increasing bed alarm use decreases hospital falls and related events. DESIGN Pair-matched, cluster randomized trial over 18 months. Nursing units were allocated by computer-generated randomization on the basis of baseline fall rates. Patients and outcome assessors were blinded to unit assignment; outcome assessors may have become unblinded. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00183053) SETTING 16 nursing units in an urban community hospital. PATIENTS 27 672 inpatients in general medical, surgical, and specialty units. INTERVENTION Education, training, and technical support to promote use of a standard bed alarm system (intervention units); bed alarms available but not formally promoted or supported (control units). MEASUREMENTS Pre-post difference in change in falls per 1000 patient-days (primary end point); number of patients who fell, fall-related injuries, and number of patients restrained (secondary end points). RESULTS Prevalence of alarm use was 64.41 days per 1000 patient-days on intervention units and 1.79 days per 1000 patient-days on control units (P = 0.004). There was no difference in change in fall rates per 1000 patient-days (risk ratio, 1.09 [95% CI, 0.85 to 1.53]; difference, 0.41 [CI, -1.05 to 2.47], which corresponds to a greater difference in falls in control vs. intervention units) or in the number of patients who fell, injurious fall rates, or the number of patients physically restrained on intervention units compared with control units. LIMITATION The study was conducted at a single site and was slightly underpowered compared with the initial design. CONCLUSION An intervention designed to increase bed alarm use in an urban hospital increased alarm use but had no statistically or clinically significant effect on fall-related events or physical restraint use. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE National Institute on Aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald I Shorr
- GeriatricResearch Education and Clinical Center (182), Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1601 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.
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Mion LC, Chandler AM, Waters TM, Dietrich MS, Kessler LA, Miller ST, Shorr RI. Is it possible to identify risks for injurious falls in hospitalized patients? Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2012; 38:408-13. [PMID: 23002493 DOI: 10.1016/s1553-7250(12)38052-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patient falls are among the most commonly reported adverse hospital events with more than one million occurring annually in the United States; approximately 10% result in serious injury. A retrospective study was conducted to determine predictors and outcomes of fall injuries among a cohort of adult hospitalized patients. METHODS Data were obtained regarding patients who sustained an initial fall in hospital during a 26-month period from 16 adult general medical and surgical units in an urban university-affiliated community hospital. Data on intrinsic (individual) factors, extrinsic (environmental) factors, and situational activities were collected via nurse and patient interviews, patient examinations, and audits of incident reports and electronic health records. Fall injuries were classified as none/any for analyses. Unadjusted odds ratios [ORs] and 95% confidence intervals [CIs] for each of the variables of interest with fall injury were generated using logistic regressions. RESULTS The 784 patients had a median age of 63.5 years (range, 20 to > 90 years), 390 (50%) were women, and 526 (67%) were black. Some 228 (29%) fallers sustained injury; patients who were white (OR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.62, 3.08), or were administered a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.67), two antipsychotic agents (OR: 3.26; 95% CI: 1.20, 8.90), an opiate (OR: 1.59; 95%; CI: 1.14, 2.20), or a diuretic non-antihypertensive agent (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.03, 2.26) were more likely to sustain an injury. Home-based wheelchair use was protective of fall injury (OR: 0.20; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.84). Seventy-nine percent of the patients had been designated as "high" fall risk within 24 hours before the fall. CONCLUSIONS Few variables were able to distinguish patients who sustained injury after a hospital fall, further challenging clinicians' efforts to minimize hospital-related fall injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorraine C Mion
- Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
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Midence JN, Leutenegger CM, Chandler AM, Goldstein RE. Effects of recent Leptospira vaccination on whole blood real-time PCR testing in healthy client-owned dogs. J Vet Intern Med 2011; 26:149-52. [PMID: 22182214 DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.00852.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2011] [Revised: 10/05/2011] [Accepted: 11/11/2011] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterin-based canine Leptospira vaccines could present a challenge for the use of whole blood real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a diagnostic tool. Recent vaccination could induce positive results if the targeted DNA fragment is present within the vaccine and in the blood of the recently vaccinated dog. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to assess whether 2 available 4-serovar vaccines induce a positive real-time PCR reaction in the blood of healthy recently vaccinated dogs. ANIMALS Twenty healthy dogs. METHODS This was a prospective study. Dogs were assigned to 1 of 2 vaccine groups. Both vaccines were culture-based and include Leptospira interrogans serovars Pomona, Canicola, and Icterohaemorrhagiae and Leptospira kirschneri serovar Grippotyphosa. Whole blood for real-time PCR and serum for the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) were collected prior to and 3 and 7 days after vaccination and weekly thereafter for 8 weeks. Two real-time PCR tests targeting 2 different genes were performed independently in a blinded fashion. RESULTS Both Leptospira vaccines produced positive real-time PCR reactions when assayed undiluted or diluted 1 : 100 in canine blood. However, blood samples drawn from all dogs at all time points after vaccination were negative on PCR. All dogs developed MAT titers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Recent vaccination with 2 commercially available vaccines does not interfere with the use of real-time PCR for the identification of acute Leptospira infection in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J N Midence
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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Davenport RD, Vaidean GD, Jones CB, Chandler AM, Kessler LA, Mion LC, Shorr RI. Falls following discharge after an in-hospital fall. BMC Geriatr 2009; 9:53. [PMID: 19951431 PMCID: PMC2790437 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2318-9-53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2009] [Accepted: 12/01/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Falls are among the most common adverse events reported in hospitalized patients. While there is a growing body of literature on fall prevention in the hospital, the data examining the fall rate and risk factors for falls in the immediate post-hospitalization period has not been well described. The objectives of the present study were to determine the fall rate of in-hospital fallers at home and to explore the risk factors for falls during the immediate post-hospitalization period. Methods We identified patients who sustained a fall on one of 16 medical/surgical nursing units during an inpatient admission to an urban community teaching hospital. After discharge, falls were ascertained using weekly telephone surveillance for 4 weeks post-discharge. Patients were followed until death, loss to follow up or end of study (four weeks). Time spent rehospitalized or institutionalized was censored in rate calculations. Results Of 95 hospitalized patients who fell during recruitment, 65 (68%) met inclusion criteria and agreed to participate. These subjects contributed 1498 person-days to the study (mean duration of follow-up = 23 days). Seventy-five percent were African-American and 43% were women. Sixteen patients (25%) had multiple falls during hospitalization and 23 patients (35%) suffered a fall-related injury during hospitalization. Nineteen patients (29%) experienced 38 falls at their homes, yielding a fall rate of 25.4/1,000 person-days (95% CI: 17.3-33.4). Twenty-three patients (35%) were readmitted and 3(5%) died. One patient experienced a hip fracture. In exploratory univariate analysis, persons who were likely to fall at home were those who sustained multiple falls in the hospital (p = 0.008). Conclusion Patients who fall during hospitalization, especially on more than one occasion, are at high risk for falling at home following hospital discharge. Interventions to reduce falls would be appropriate to test in this high-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rick D Davenport
- HSR&D/RR&D Center of Excellence, James A. Haley VAMC, 8900 Grand Oak Circle, Tampa, FL, 33637, USA.
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Shorr RI, Mion LC, Chandler AM, Rosenblatt LC, Lynch D, Kessler LA. Improving the capture of fall events in hospitals: combining a service for evaluating inpatient falls with an incident report system. J Am Geriatr Soc 2008; 56:701-4. [PMID: 18205761 PMCID: PMC2361382 DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01605.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the utility of a fall evaluation service to improve the ascertainment of falls in acute care. DESIGN Six-month observational study. SETTING Sixteen adult nursing units (349 beds) in an urban, academically affiliated, community hospital. PARTICIPANTS Patients admitted to the study units during the study period. INTERVENTION Nursing staff identifying falls were instructed to notify, using a pager, a trained nurse "fall evaluator." Fall evaluators provided 24-hour-per-day 7-day-per-week coverage throughout the study. Data on patient falls gathered by fall evaluators were compared with falls data obtained through the hospital's incident reporting system. RESULTS During 51,180 patient-days of observation, 191 falls were identified according to incident reports (3.73 falls/1,000 patient-days), whereas the evaluation service identified 228 falls (4.45 falls/1,000 patient-days). Combining falls reported from both data sources yielded 266 falls (5.20 falls/1,000 patient-days), a 39% relative rate increase compared with incident reports alone (P<.001). For falls with injury, combining data from both sources yielded 79 falls (1.54 injurious falls/1,000 patient-days), compared with 57 falls (1.11 injurious falls/1,000 patient-days) filed in incident reports--a 28% increase (P=.06). In the 16 nursing units, the relative percentage increase of captured fall events using the combined data sources versus the incident reporting system alone ranged from 13% to 125%. CONCLUSION Incident reports significantly underestimate both injurious and noninjurious falls in acute care settings and should not be used as the sole source of data for research or quality improvement initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald I Shorr
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA.
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Abstract
This article describes the development of a generic loss assessment methodology, which is applicable to earthquake and windstorm perils worldwide. The latest information regarding hazard estimation is first integrated with the parameters that best describe the intensity of the action of both windstorms and earthquakes on building structures, for events with defined average return periods or recurrence intervals. The subsequent evaluation of building vulnerability (damageability) under the action of both earthquake and windstorm loadings utilizes information on damage and loss from past events, along with an assessment of the key building properties (including age and quality of design and construction), to assess information about the ability of buildings to withstand such loadings and hence to assign a building type to the particular risk or portfolio of risks. This predicted damage information is then translated into risk-specific mathematical vulnerability functions, which enable numerical evaluation of the probability of building damage arising at various defined levels. By assigning cost factors to the defined damage levels, the associated computation of total loss at a given level of hazard may be achieved. This developed methodology is universal in the sense that it may be applied successfully to buildings situated in a variety of earthquake and windstorm environments, ranging from very low to extreme levels of hazard. As a loss prediction tool, it enables accurate estimation of losses from potential scenario events linked to defined return periods and, hence, can greatly assist risk assessment and planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Chandler
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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Chandler AM, Walker SP, Connolly K, Grantham-McGregor SM. School breakfast improves verbal fluency in undernourished Jamaican children. J Nutr 1995; 125:894-900. [PMID: 7722692 DOI: 10.1093/jn/125.4.894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
School feeding programs exist in many countries, but few have been properly evaluated. In this study, the short-term effects of breakfast on children's cognitive functions were examined. The subjects were 97 undernourished (weight-for-age < or = -1 SD of reference) and 100 adequately nourished (weight-for-age > -1 SD) children in four primary schools in rural Jamaica. The children were randomly assigned to a group provided with breakfast or a group given a quarter of an orange as a placebo, and then given a battery of four cognitive function tests. After a few weeks the treatments were reversed and the tests repeated. Undernourished children's performance improved significantly on a test of verbal fluency when they received breakfast, whereas that of the adequately nourished children did not change (breakfast x group interaction, P < 0.05). There were no other effects of breakfast on test scores. The findings extend those of a previous Jamaican study conducted under more controlled conditions, and support the targeting of school meals to undernourished children.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Chandler
- Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica
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Rokita H, Magielska-Zero D, Dubin A, Chandler AM, Koj A. Plasma proteinase inhibitors in Morris hepatoma-bearing rats: changes in the blood level and synthesis in tissue slices. Int J Biochem 1985; 17:1267-70. [PMID: 4076527 DOI: 10.1016/0020-711x(85)90018-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The antiproteinase activities against trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, papain and rat leucocyte proteinases were determined in plasma from control and Morris hepatoma-bearing rats. Bovine trypsin and chymotrypsin were similarly inhibited by the two types of plasma whereas porcine pancreatic elastase, papain and rat leucocyte neutral proteinases were more efficiently inhibited by plasma from tumour-bearing rats. The increased plasma concentrations of some proteinase inhibitors, as determined by rocket immunoelectrophoresis, are suggested to be responsible for the observed differences in inhibition. The highest increases in plasma of tumour-bearing rats were observed for alpha 2-macroglobulin and alpha 1-acute-phase globulin. The synthesis and secretion of six proteinase inhibitors: antithrombin III, alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, alpha 1-macroglobulin, alpha 2-macroglobulin, alpha 1-acute-phase globulin and haptoglobin, as well as albumin, were measured in tissue slices from rat liver and Morris hepatoma after incubation with [14C]leucine. Local inflammation inflicted upon the tumour-bearing rats increased formation of acute-phase proteins in liver slices but not in hepatoma slices.
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Bosanquet AG, Chandler AM, Gordon AH. Effects of injury on the concentration of alpha1-macroglobulin and alpha2-macroglobulin in the plasmas of male and remale rats. Experientia 1976; 32:1348-9. [PMID: 61894 DOI: 10.1007/bf01953133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The effects of injury on the concentration of alpha1-macroglobulin and alpha2-macroglobulin in the plasmas of male and remale rats has been investigates. At 5 days after injury to the male rats the alpha1-macroglobulin concentration increased to 131% of its preinjury value. The alpha2-macroglobulin concentration increased more rapidly to a maximum of 86 times its initial value. In the female rats alpha2-macroglobulin increased only slightly and alpha1-macroglobulin not at all.
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Sander LA, Chandler AM, JohnsonLR. Changes in liver and gastric mucosal hexosamine synthesis after restraint. Gastroenterology 1975; 68:285-93. [PMID: 1116675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The specific activity of L-glutamine: D-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase was measured in the oxyntic gland mucosa and liver of fasted, male rats after immobilization in a cold environment. Immobilization for 3 hr resulted in 100% frequency of lesion formation associated with decreased enzyme activity in oxyntic gland mucosa (70.1 plus or minus 5.9% of control) and liver 25.2 plus or minus 5.2% of control). Enzyme activity had returned to control level in the stomach 9 hr after immobilization, and in the liver 21 hr after immobilization. Immobilization for 1 1/2 hr decreased oxyntic gland mucosa enzyme activity to 21.0 plus or minus 9.8% of control, although the frequency of lesion formation was only 62.5%. Liver enzyme activity was 51.3 plus or minus 12.8% of control. Concentrations of UDP-N-acetylhexosamines, feedback inhibitors of this enzyme, were not altered in either tissue. Adrenalectomy, which increased the frequency of damage after 1 hr of immobilization, enhanced the decreases in enzyme activity in both tissues, while atropine sulfate, which decreased the frequency of damage after 3 hr of immobilization, had no significant effect on the enzyme. Thus, immobilization of rats in a cold environment decreases or alters the synthesis of hexosamine-containing compounds through a mechanism not dependent on acid secretion or adrenocorticoids. This alteration in synthesis may result not only in abnormal mucus secretion, but also in altered cell membrane structure and function.
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Okubo H, Chandler AM. Regulation of glucosamine synthesis during the first twenty-four hours following injury and partial hepatectomy. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1974; 146:1159-62. [PMID: 4421724 DOI: 10.3181/00379727-146-38265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Mack DO, Watson JJ, Chandler AM, Johnson BC. Induction of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase by a 90 percent carbohydrate diet and 8-azaguanine insensitive induction of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase following a transfer from the 90 percent carbohydrate diet to a 90 percent protein diet. J Nutr 1974; 104:12-7. [PMID: 4809063 DOI: 10.1093/jn/104.1.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
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Watson JJ, Cook C, Kelley DS, Chandler AM, Johnson BC. Effects of sucrose versus fat as energy source in the diet on rat liver polysome patterns. J Nutr 1973; 103:1521-7. [PMID: 4584650 DOI: 10.1093/jn/103.11.1521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
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Chandler AM, Johnson LR. Pentagastrin-stimulated incorporation of 14 C-orotic acid into RNA of gastric and duodenal mucosa. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1972; 141:110-3. [PMID: 5082283 DOI: 10.3181/00379727-141-36727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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