Preventing Falls in Hospitalized Patients: State of the Science

Clin Geriatr Med. 2019 May;35(2):273-283. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2019.01.007. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

Abstract

Falls in hospitalized patients are a pressing patient safety concern, but there is a limited body of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of commonly used fall prevention interventions in hospitals. This article reviews common study designs and the evidence for various hospital fall prevention interventions. There is a need for more rigorous research on fall prevention in the hospital setting.

Keywords: Accidental falls; Aged; Alarms; Hospitals; Nursing; Prevention; Restraints.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Accident Prevention / methods*
  • Accidental Falls / prevention & control*
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Hospitalization*
  • Humans
  • Patient Safety
  • Risk Assessment