Abstract
Background
The National Steering Group and NICE provide guidelines on medical assessment and prevention of falls and fractures (1)(2). This audit assesses and compares quality of practice on an Age-Related rehabilitation ward against these guidelines.
Methods
A Quality improvement project, including all patients(n=31) on an off-site, Age-Related rehabilitation ward was completed. Data on falls and fractures at emergency department presentation and during admission was obtained through chart review. Following education and implementation of a falls pro-forma, a re-audit was completed at four months including all patients(n=40).
Results
In cycle 1, mean age of patients was 80 years (range 56-94), 39%(n=12) were admitted with a fall of whom 66.7%(n=8) had a resulting fracture. In cycle 2, mean age was 82years(range 63–95), 48%(n=19) were admitted due to a fall, of whom 53%(n=10) had a fracture. A falls assessment and bone health review was completed in 39%(n=12) of all patients in cycle 1, and in 41%(n=3) admitted with a fall. This increased to 83%(n=33) of all patients in cycle 2 and 100%(n=40) of those admitted with a fall. Pre-intervention, 23%(n=7) had an inpatient fall compared to 18%(n=7) post-intervention; of these, 43%(n=3) and 14%(n=1) resulted in fractures respectively.
Conclusion
Compliance with national guidelines for prevention of falls and fractures improved with education and implementation of a falls pro-forma. This resulted in a reduction in falls, particularly injurious falls, on a rehabilitation ward. In future, this pro-forma may be implemented in other hospital wards.
Author Information
Chimezie Alexandra Nzeji, Tallaght University Hospital, Ireland
Fayaz Rahaman, Tallaght University Hospital, Ireland
Ruha Makhura, Tallaght University Hospital, Ireland
Aoife Fallon, Tallaght University Hospital, Ireland
Anna McDonough, Tallaght University Hospital, Ireland
Paper Information
Conference: EGen2022
Stream: Frailty
This paper is part of the EGen2022 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Nzeji C., Rahaman F., Makhura R., Fallon A., & McDonough A. (2022) Improving the Assessment and Prevention of Falls and Fractures on a Rehabilitation Ward ISSN: 2435-4937 The European Conference on Aging & Gerontology 2022: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 63-72) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2435-4937.2022.6
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2435-4937.2022.6
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