Falls often cause devastating injuries which precipitate hospital and long-term care admission and result in an increased burden on health care services. Fall prevention interventions are used to overcome fall risk factors in an ageing population. There is an increasing need for technology-assisted interventions to reduce health care costs, whilst also lessening the burden that an ageing population increasingly has on health care services. Research efforts have been spent on reducing intrinsic fall risk factors (i.e. functional ability deficits and balance impairments) in the older adult population through the use of technology-assisted interventions, but relatively little effort has been expended on extrinsic risk factors (i.e. unsuitable environmental conditions and lack of assistive equipment use), considering the drive for healthcare outside of the clinical setting into the patients' home. In the field of occupational therapy, the extrinsic fall-risk assessment process (EFAP) is a prominent preventive intervention used to promote independent living and alleviate fall risk factors via the provision of assistive equipment prescribed for use by patients in their home environment. Currently, paper-based forms with measurement guidance presented in the form of 2D diagrams are used in the EFAP. These indicate the precise points and dimensions on a furniture item that must be measured as part of an assessment for equipment. However, this process involves challenges, such as inappropriate equipment prescribed due to inaccurate measurements being taken and recorded from the misinterpretation of the measurement guidance. This is largely due to the poor visual representation of guidance that is provided by existing paper-based forms, resulting in high levels of equipment abandonment by patients. Consequently, there is a need to overcome the challenges mentioned above by augmenting the limitations of the paper-based approach to visualise measurement guidance for equipment. To this end, this thesis proposes the use of 3D visualisation technology in the form of a novel mobile 3D application (Guidetomeasure) to visualise guidance in a well-perceived manner and support stakeholders with equipment prescriptions. To ensure that the artefact is a viable improvement over its 2D predecessor, it was designed, developed and empirically evaluated with patients and clinicians alike through conducting five user-centred design and experimental studies. A mixed-method analysis was undertaken to establish the design, effectiveness, efficiency and usability of the proposed artefact, compared with conventional approaches used for data collection and equipment prescription. The research findings show that both patients and clinicians suggest that 3D visualisation is a promising development of an alternative tool that contains functionality to overcome existing issues faced in the EFAP. Overall, this research makes a conceptual contribution (secondary) to the research domain and a software artefact (primary) that significantly improves practice, resulting in implications and recommendations for the wider healthcare provision (primary).

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Objective: The objective of this study is to examine relations between patient safety culture and processes of care, specifically, how patient safety culture influences the prevention of patient falls. The purpose of this inquiry is to identify the barriers and facilitators that can advance an inpatient rehabilitation facility to become a high reliability organization and advance interdisciplinary teamwork. Method: A qualitative phenomenological approach was conducted and an interpretive phenomenological analysis explored the experiences of frontline staff with regard to patient safety culture and fall prevention. The study utilized semi-structured interviews with 24 frontline staff from three inpatient rehabilitation hospitals. Participants were selected using purposive sampling and individually interviewed. Results: Findings revealed barriers and facilitators for each dimension of patient safety culture that drive fall prevention. Teamwork within and across disciplines, such as between nursing and therapy, affect how they communicate with one another. Issues related to staffing were the most common concerns amongst nursing staff; especially the issue of staffing ratio and patient acuity. Leadership played a role in supporting the culture of safety and holding staff accountable. Conclusion: Fall prevention requires collaborative efforts between nursing and therapy in an inpatient rehabilitation setting. Dimensions of patient safety culture such as good teamwork, effective communication, adequate staffing, nonpunitive response to errors, and strong leadership support are essential in maintaining a high reliability process for adaptive learning and reliable performance.

Falls are nurse-sensitive outcome which reflect the quality of nursing care. Nurses, therefore, have a major role to play in efforts to decrease fall rates. The objective of this project is to increase nurses' knowledge on the proper use of the CVVM as an attempt to effectively decrease fall rates. Pretest, post test, and course evaluation data were collected from 30 nurses. A descriptive analysis of the data was performed. Overall, the pretest evaluation showed that nurses had an average score of 43% in the combined assessment of their knowledge on fall prevention strategies, their use of the CVVM, and their knowledge about the hospital's policy on patient monitoring. The nurses' post test average score in the combined assessment of these measures increased to 89% after the educational training which included presentations, hands-on-training, and provision of reference materials and cheat cards on fall prevention strategies and the use of the CVVM surveillance system. Inadequate training, lack of knowledge on the utilization of CVVM surveillance, inadequate use of system resources, and noncompliance with hospital policies were the primary drivers of fall rates in this hospital. Main recommendations include training and periodic retraining of staff on fall prevention strategies; leadership involvement to ensure nurses' compliance with the use of CVVM technology and hospital policy on patient monitoring; provision of CVVM reference materials; and nursing responsibilities in patient monitoring. Social change implications of this project include that nurses are better equipped through training to prevent falls, therefore, lowering patient morbidity and mortality rates.

<p>The progress of the health among the elderly has a major meaning for the needs of care, nursing and social services. The health of the elderly has improved but fall and fall accidents are a major problem. Acute diseases, activities and environment risks are often related to fall accidents. The aim of the study was to describe health care staffs’ opinions about fall risk and fall prevention. The study had a qualitative approach with a descriptive design. Twelve persons from a primary healthcare centre, a hospital and a community elder care unit in the middle of Sweden were interviewed. The material was analyzed through qualitative content analysis and data from the interviews resulted in two categories; The category “Factors contributing to falls” was formulated from the subcategories; The older persons health status and their care needs, Physical environment, Lack of competence among staff, Lack of time, stress and insufficient staffing, Staffs’ responsibilities and not followed routines and Insufficient cooperation between professional groups. The category “Factors preventing falls” was formulated from the subcategories; Physical environment and physical aid, Competence and fall risk assessment instruments, Different professionals’ responsibilities and Cooperation between different professionals. The results showed that the health care staff viewed several factors, which according to them contributed to falls as well as prevented falls. Cooperation between different professionals, increased competence and use of systematic fall risk assessment instruments were mentioned resulting in advantages for the patient.</p> / <p>Utvecklingen av de äldres hälsa har stor betydelse för behoven av vård och omsorg. Hälsan för äldre har förbättrats men fall och fallskador är ett stort problem och akuta sjukdomar, aktiviteter och omgivningsfaktorer är ofta utösande orsaker till fall. Syftet med denna studie var att beskriva vårdgivares uppfattning om fallrisker och fallprevention. Metoden var en kvalitativ intervjustudie med en beskrivande design. Tolv personer har intervjuats från hälsocentral, sjukhus och kommunalt äldreboende i ett län i Mellansverige. Resultatet redovisas utifrån två kategorier. Kategorin ”Faktorer som kan bidra till fall” framkom ur subkategorierna; Patientens tillstånd och omvårdnadsbehov, Fysisk miljö, Brist på kunskaper hos vårdpersonalen, Tidsbrist, stress och otillräcklig bemanning, Personalens ansvar och att inte följa rutiner samt Otillräcklig samverkan mellan yrkesgrupper och vårdnivåer. Kategorin ”Faktorer som kan motverka fall/fallprevention” framkom ur subkategorierna; Fysisk miljö och hjälpmedel, Kunskaper och utveckling av ett systematiskt arbetssätt, Ansvaret hos olika yrkeskategorier samt Samverkan. Resultatet i studien visade att det finns flera olika faktorer kring en patient som kan bidra till fall och som kan motverka fall. Samverkan mellan olika vårdnivåer, kunskaper och utveckling av ett systematiskt arbetssätt framkom som viktiga faktorer till fördel för patienten.</p>

The progress of the health among the elderly has a major meaning for the needs of care, nursing and social services. The health of the elderly has improved but fall and fall accidents are a major problem. Acute diseases, activities and environment risks are often related to fall accidents. The aim of the study was to describe health care staffs’ opinions about fall risk and fall prevention. The study had a qualitative approach with a descriptive design. Twelve persons from a primary healthcare centre, a hospital and a community elder care unit in the middle of Sweden were interviewed. The material was analyzed through qualitative content analysis and data from the interviews resulted in two categories; The category “Factors contributing to falls” was formulated from the subcategories; The older persons health status and their care needs, Physical environment, Lack of competence among staff, Lack of time, stress and insufficient staffing, Staffs’ responsibilities and not followed routines and Insufficient cooperation between professional groups. The category “Factors preventing falls” was formulated from the subcategories; Physical environment and physical aid, Competence and fall risk assessment instruments, Different professionals’ responsibilities and Cooperation between different professionals. The results showed that the health care staff viewed several factors, which according to them contributed to falls as well as prevented falls. Cooperation between different professionals, increased competence and use of systematic fall risk assessment instruments were mentioned resulting in advantages for the patient. / Utvecklingen av de äldres hälsa har stor betydelse för behoven av vård och omsorg. Hälsan för äldre har förbättrats men fall och fallskador är ett stort problem och akuta sjukdomar, aktiviteter och omgivningsfaktorer är ofta utösande orsaker till fall. Syftet med denna studie var att beskriva vårdgivares uppfattning om fallrisker och fallprevention. Metoden var en kvalitativ intervjustudie med en beskrivande design. Tolv personer har intervjuats från hälsocentral, sjukhus och kommunalt äldreboende i ett län i Mellansverige. Resultatet redovisas utifrån två kategorier. Kategorin ”Faktorer som kan bidra till fall” framkom ur subkategorierna; Patientens tillstånd och omvårdnadsbehov, Fysisk miljö, Brist på kunskaper hos vårdpersonalen, Tidsbrist, stress och otillräcklig bemanning, Personalens ansvar och att inte följa rutiner samt Otillräcklig samverkan mellan yrkesgrupper och vårdnivåer. Kategorin ”Faktorer som kan motverka fall/fallprevention” framkom ur subkategorierna; Fysisk miljö och hjälpmedel, Kunskaper och utveckling av ett systematiskt arbetssätt, Ansvaret hos olika yrkeskategorier samt Samverkan. Resultatet i studien visade att det finns flera olika faktorer kring en patient som kan bidra till fall och som kan motverka fall. Samverkan mellan olika vårdnivåer, kunskaper och utveckling av ett systematiskt arbetssätt framkom som viktiga faktorer till fördel för patienten.

Purpose The purpose of this study has been to investigate the documentation process following the guiding principles of the Quality Norms for Fall Prevention concerning fall risk assessment, risk identification, fall preventive measures, information and the making of an individual care plan. Method This study is a quantitative, descriptive and retrospective journal review study. There were 100 journals examine the existing documentation concerning fall risk assessment of patients who received treatment in geriatric patient care. The sample was consecutively. Results The results showed that fall risk assessment was documented in 79 of 100 examined journals. 56 (71 %) of the fall risk assessments were made within 24 hours. In 59 of 100 journals the patient, relatives or former caretakers was asked whether the patient had had a fall within the last year, and in 61 of 100 journals it was documented that the nursing staff had made an assessment that the patient was going to have a fall during his or her length of stay if no preventive measures were set in. The majority of fall risk factors and fall preventive measures were documented within the areas of walking and transfer. It was documented that the patient was informed of fall risk, fall risk factors and fall preventive measures in 15 of 100 journals. For 33 of 68 (49 %) patients with an identified increased fall risk, a care plan was established.  Conclusion Quality norm is recently introduced and enforced in the relative extent. Since the objective is to appropriate risk assessment should be performed on all enrolled patients in geriatric patient care, so it should be performed and documented in all patients. / Syfte Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur dokumentationen utförs utifrån riktlinjerna i kvalitetsnormen för fallprevention gällande fallriskbedömning, riskidentifiering, fallpreventiva åtgärder, information och upprättande av en individuell vårdplan. Metod Studien var en kvantitativ, deskriptiv och retrospektiv journalgranskningsstudie. Det var 100 journaler som granskades gällande dokumentation angående fallriskbedömning av patienter som vårdats inom geriatrisk sluten vård. Urvalet var konsekutivt. Resultat Resultatet visade att i 79 av 100 granskade journaler var fallriskbedömning dokumenterad. Det var 56 (71 %) fallriskbedömningar som var utförda inom 24 timmar. I 59 av 100 journaler har patienten, anhöriga eller tidigare vårdgivare tillfrågats om patienten fallit senaste året och i 61 av 100 journaler fanns det dokumenterat att vårdpersonalen gjort en bedömning om patienten kommer falla under vårdtiden om inga förebyggande åtgärder sätts in. Flest fallriskfaktorer och fallpreventiva åtgärder inom området gång och förflyttning dokumenterades. Det fanns dokumenterat att patienten blev informerad angående fallrisk, fallriskfaktorer och fallpreventiva åtgärder i 15 av 100 journaler. För 33 av 68 (49 %) patienter med en bedömd förhöjd fallrisk upprättades en vårdplan. Slutsats Kvalitetsnormen är nyligen införd och efterlevs i relativ stor utsträckning. Eftersom målet är att fallriskbedömning ska utföras på samtliga inskrivna patienter inom geriatrisk sluten vård så bör den utföras och dokumenteras på samtliga patienter.

BACKGROUND: Stroke survivors fall 7 times more annually than same-aged healthy adults; and most fall within the first 2 to 6 months post stroke after transition of care home from the acute setting. These falls cause hip fractures and other bodily injury, further compounding post-stroke mobility, fear of falling, social isolation, and social dependence while collectively yielding poorer outcomes at greater financial burden. PROBLEM: To date, no fall prevention program has targeted stroke survivors as they prepare for transition of care home from the acute setting. PURPOSE: The purpose of this practice inquiry is to develop an evidence-based fall prevention program aimed at empowering acute stroke survivors preparing for transition of care home from the acute setting. METHODS: An extensive literature review was synthesized to assess post-stroke falls epidemiology, contributing factors, potential consequences, and the current status of ameliorative interventions. A modified conceptual framework based upon the Science of Unitary Human Beings, theories of health empowerment, cognitive plasticity, and cognitive reserve was created to synergistically inform fall prevention program development. Literature review synthesis and modified conceptual framework collectively informed subsequent construction of a mixed theory-outcome-activities approach logic model to systematically guide proposed program implementation and evaluation plans. RESULTS: A novel evidence-based empowerment-focused fall prevention program was developed for acute stroke survivors preparing for transition of care home from the acute setting. CONCLUSION: The multi-interventional Patient Empowerment at Transitions of Care Fall Prevention Program for Stroke Survivors inspires a paradigm shift in the way stroke professionals and survivors view recovery and inherent survivor potential. The proposed fall prevention program is informed by a solid theoretical foundation and rigorous literature review of high-level evidentiary support. Moreover, existing dynamic funding opportunities promote subsequent program implementation and evaluation facilitated by Patient-Centered Outcome Research Institute grant pursuit.

Fall prevention is a serious issue in the health and aging fields, and much attention and research is now being focused on examining why older adults fall and ways to prevent them from falling. Although it has been well-documented that older adults benefit from programs designed to decrease falling by promoting exercise participation, balance training, and fall education; little research has focused on specifically examining how older minority women view preventive exercise programs. This qualitative study explores the experiences of older minority women participating in a fall prevention program. The specific aims of the study are to: 1) gain an understanding of older minority women’s experiences and perceptions about falling and fall prevention; 2) establish what factors influence older minority women to participate in fall prevention programs; and 3) explore participants’ perceived outcomes of program participation. Post-test interviews with 21 participants were analyzed using the method of grounded theory to identify common themes and outcomes associated with participation in a fall prevention program. Findings from this study provide an in-depth look into the factors motivating older minority women to participate in exercise and explore their beliefs regarding falling and fall prevention.

Darbo objektas: Geriatrinių pacientų pusiausvyros gerinimas. Tyrimo problema: Pagyvenusiai ir senyvo amžiaus žmonių populiacijai sparčiai didėjant, labai svarbu yra išlaikyti fizinį aktyvumą, savarankiškumą, apsitarnavimą kasdieninėje veikloje bei sumažinti nelaimingų atsitikimų riziką. Pagrindinis veiksnys įtakojantis pagyvenusio amžiaus žmonių nelaimingus atsitikimus ir mirštamumą yra griuvimai. Todėl tampa labai svarbu iš anksto jiems užkirsti kelią ir taip gerinti pagyvenusio amžiaus žmonių gyvenimo kokybę. Tyrimo tikslas: nustatyti pratimų su grįžtamuoju ryšiu poveikį geriatrinių pacientų pusiausvyros lavinimui ir griuvimų prevencijai. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1. Nustatyti tiriamųjų riziką nugriūti prieš ir po kineziterapijos programos 2. Nustatyti statinę ir dinaminę pusiausvyrą prieš ir po kineziterapijos programos Tyrimo metodika: tyrimas buvo atliktas Belgijoje, Gento mieste, Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent, Geriatrijos skyriuje 2012 – 2013 metais. Tyrime dalyvavo 5 pacientai atitikę šiuos kriterijus: • Amžius nuo 70-89 metų; • Griuvę per paskutinius metus bent vieną kartą ir patyrę kaulų lūžių ar kitų sužeidimų; • Nepatyrę galvos smegenų insulto; • Surinkę ne mažiau 25 balus pagal Berg pusiausvyros vertinimo skalę; Tyrimas buvo vykdomas keturias savaites. Kineziterapijos užsiėmimai buvo atliekami 5 kartus per savaitę, 40 min. – 1 val. per dieną. Tiriamieji buvo testuojami tris kartus, prieš pradedant tyrimą, praėjus dviems savaitėms ir paskutinę tyrimo dieną. Pusiausvyros... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Object of study: balance improvement in geriatric patients Problem of study: while the elderly populations keep on growing it is so important to sustain physical activity and independence in daily activities amongst them, while preventing the risk of fall. The main reason that impacts elderly people’s accidents is fall. That is why it is essential to prevent fall and it that way improve the quality of life Aim of study: to define the effect of balance exercises with feedback on falls prevention for geriatric patients Goals of study: 1. To identify factors that influence geriatric patients risk of falls. 2. To estimate effect of special balance and exercises with feedback for static and dynamic balance for geriatric patients Methods and organization of study: the research took place in Belgium, the city of Gent, Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent, in Geriatrics department in the year 2012 – 2013. Five patients participated in the research who: • Was aged between 70-89 years; • Had fallen down in the last year and suffered from the bone fractures or other injuries; • Haven’t suffered from stroke; • Reached not less than 25 points in Berg balance test; The study took place weeks. Physiotherapy exercises took place every day 5 times per week, 40 minutes till 1 hour. The participants were examined 3 times during the study Conclusions: 1. After performing special balance exercises with feedback there was detected statistically significant improvement of static and dynamic balance in... [to full text]