Inpatient falls: the impact of family and personal caregivers

Appl Nurs Res. 2009 Aug;22(3):159-65. doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2007.09.002.

Abstract

The impact of family and personal caregivers on inpatients with fall-related injuries in a Taiwanese medical center is investigated in this study. Taiwan has a prevalent custom for families to accompany their hospitalized loved ones during hospital stays. During the 95-day data collection period, 228 falls occurred. Results showed that if no family members were present when a patient fell, the fall-related injury was less serious. Nurses in Taiwan tend to depend on family members to help provide patient care. Regardless of whether an inpatient has a family member present, frequent bedside nursing visits are important to prevent falls.

MeSH terms

  • Academic Medical Centers / standards
  • Academic Medical Centers / statistics & numerical data*
  • Accidental Falls / prevention & control
  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data*
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Caregivers / statistics & numerical data*
  • Confucianism
  • Culture
  • Family Nursing / standards*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inpatients / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / standards*
  • Quality of Health Care
  • Taiwan / epidemiology
  • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Wounds and Injuries / nursing
  • Wounds and Injuries / prevention & control