An analysis of falls in the hospital: can we do without bedrails?
J Am Geriatr Soc
; 47(5): 529-31, 1999 May.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10323644
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
To determine the effects of introduction of a bedrail policy, and an educational program, on patient falls and fall-related injuries.DESIGN:
A prospective "Before and After" design. PARTICIPANTS ANDSETTING:
All patients admitted during 1 calendar year in an assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation unit for older people. INTERVENTION A policy change for the use of bedrails (restricting their use) and an educational program about their effects. MEASUREMENTS Patient fall rates -- all falls and around the bed falls -- and patient and staff injuries.RESULTS:
There was a significant reduction in the number of beds with bedrails attached after the policy introduction (mean of 40/135 vs 18.5/135, respectively, P = .02), but the fall rate (either total or around the bed) did not change significantly. Serious injuries were significantly less common after the bedrail policy was introduced (P = .008), with fewer head injuries.CONCLUSIONS:
Reducing the use of bedrails did not alter patient fall rates significantly, but it was associated with a reduction in serious injuries. Unless it can be shown that bedrails are beneficial, their continued use in older patients must be seriously questioned.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Beds
/
Accidental Falls
/
Hospitals
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
En
Journal:
J Am Geriatr Soc
Year:
1999
Document type:
Article