The Perceived Knowledge of Fall Prevention in Nurses Working in Acute Care Hospitals in China and the United States

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the perceived knowledge of fall prevention in nurses working in hospitals in China and the United States.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey with 17 items was used to measure perceived knowledge of fall prevention of nurses working in hospitals in China and the United States.

Results: A total of 1442 nurses at 2 hospitals completed the survey in China (90% return rate), and 260 nurses in 2 hospitals in the United States (42% return rate) for a total sample size of 1702. Six items had means less than 4, indicating less familiarity with these factors. These items included assessment of vertigo and vestibular dysfunction, vision, foot problems, balance and activity, cognitive changes, and medications. In both countries, there was a difference in 2 units worked, with those working in maternal-child having a lower perception of knowledge of fall prevention than those employed on medical-surgical units. Of the 17 items, 11 were significantly different between China and the United States, all with the United States having higher perceived knowledge.

Conclusions: For both the United States and China, the perception of knowledge of fall prevention was high. However, nurses from both countries were less familiar with the items not commonly included on fall risk tools, such as vertigo and vestibular dysfunction, vision, foot problems, balance, and cognitive changes. The findings have implications for practice and education and suggest a need to include important factors related to falls in education and intervention in both countries.