Interprofessional approach to fall prevention in hospital care.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the perception and experience of health professionals regarding fall prevention practices in hospital inpatient units. METHOD: This is a qualitative exploratory and descriptive case study based on the Canadian framework of interprofessional competences. Data was collected from two focus groups, with different health professionals in each group, and thematic content analysis was used. RESULTS: Five categories were drawn up which showed intense convergence between the participants of the two focus groups, within the context of fall prevention practices: communication between professionals and patients/carers for fall prevention, interprofessional communication for fall prevention, clarification of roles for fall prevention, health education about risk and fall prevention and continuing education for fall prevention. CONCLUSION: Teamwork and collaborative practice are important for achieving good results in the prevention of falls in hospital care, but for this to happen, health professionals need to acquire the necessary competences for collaborative action.

Interprofessional approach to fall prevention in hospital care / Enfoque interprofesional para la prevención de caídas en la atención hospitalaria / Abordagem interprofissional na prevenção de quedas na assistência hospitalar

ABSTRACT Objective: To understand the perception and experience of health professionals regarding fall prevention practices in hospital inpatient units. Method: This is a qualitative exploratory and descriptive case study based on the Canadian framework of interprofessional competences. Data was collected from two focus groups, with different health professionals in each group, and thematic content analysis was used. Results: Five categories were drawn up which showed intense convergence between the participants of the two focus groups, within the context of fall prevention practices: communication between professionals and patients/carers for fall prevention, interprofessional communication for fall prevention, clarification of roles for fall prevention, health education about risk and fall prevention and continuing education for fall prevention. Conclusion: Teamwork and collaborative practice are important for achieving good results in the prevention of falls in hospital care, but for this to happen, health professionals need to acquire the necessary competences for collaborative action.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Conocer la percepción y experiencia de los profesionales de la salud en relación a las prácticas de prevención de caídas en unidades de internación hospitalaria. Método: Se trata de un estudio de caso cualitativo, exploratorio y descriptivo, basado en el marco canadiense de competencias interprofesionales. Se recogieron datos de dos grupos focales, con diferentes profesionales sanitarios en cada grupo, y se utilizó el análisis de contenido temático. Resultados: Se elaboraron cinco categorías que mostraron una intensa convergencia entre los participantes de los dos grupos focales, en el contexto de las prácticas de prevención de caídas: comunicación entre profesionales y pacientes/cuidadores para la prevención de caídas, comunicación interprofesional para la prevención de caídas, clarificación de roles para la prevención de caídas, educación sanitaria sobre riesgos y prevención de caídas y formación continuada para la prevención de caídas. Conclusión: El trabajo en equipo y la práctica colaborativa son importantes para conseguir buenos resultados en la prevención de caídas en la atención hospitalaria, pero para ello es necesario que los profesionales sanitarios adquieran las competencias necesarias para la acción colaborativa.

RESUMO Objetivo: Compreender a percepção e a experiência vivenciada pelos profissionais de saúde quanto às práticas de prevenção de quedas na unidade de internação hospitalar. Método: Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo do tipo exploratório e descritivo, na modalidade estudo de caso, desenvolvido com base no referencial canadense de competências interprofissionais. Os dados foram coletados através de dois grupos focais, com profissionais de saúde diferentes em cada grupo, utilizando análise de conteúdo temática. Resultados: Foram elaboradas cinco categorias que mostraram intensa convergência entre os participantes dos dois grupos focais, dentro do contexto das práticas para prevenção de quedas: comunicação entre profissionais e pacientes/acompanhantes para a prevenção de quedas, comunicação interprofissional para a prevenção de quedas, clarificação de papéis para a prevenção de quedas, educação em saúde sobre risco e prevenção de quedas e educação permanente para a prevenção de quedas. Conclusão: O trabalho em equipe e a prática colaborativa são importantes para atingir bons resultados na prevenção de quedas na assistência hospitalar, mas para isso os profissionais de saúde precisam se apropriar das competências necessárias para o agir colaborativo.

Person-centered care approach to prevention and management of falls among adults and aged in a Brazilian hospital: a best practice implementation project.

OBJECTIVES: The objective is to assess compliance with evidence-based criteria regarding a person-centered care approach to the prevention and management of falls among adults and the elderly in a Brazilian private hospital. METHODS: This project used the JBI audit and feedback method to implement evidence into practice. The JBI Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System and Getting Research into Practice audit tools have been used to promote changes in oncology and medical-surgical wards. The implementation protocol was designed based on the primary barriers and facilitators identified in the baseline audit, along with a training program and changes in the electronic medical records. Nursing documentation available in medical records, interviews with nurses who worked in oncology and medical-surgical wards, and interviews with patients admitted in oncology and medical-surgical wards were used to assess the baseline and follow-up audit compliance rates. RESULTS: The baseline and follow-up audits showed improvement for criteria 3 and 9 (100%) and criteria 6 and 7 (97%), respectively. The compliance for criteria 4 (97.6%), 5 (76.7%), and 8 (18%) showed slight variations from baseline and follow-up audits. Compliance for criteria 1 (76.9%) and 2 (63.3%) decreased in the follow-up audit. CONCLUSION: These findings support that baseline, and follow-up audits allied to a fall training program and changes in the electronic nursing records increase the compliance rates related to evidence-based practice regarding a person-centered care approach to preventing and managing falls. We will implement new strategies according to the best practices to achieve better outcomes.