Older hospital inpatients' fall risk factors, perceptions, and daily activities to prevent falling

Purpose: To identify associations among patient fall risk factors, perceptions, and daily activities to improve patient engagement with fall prevention among hospitalized older adults.

Background: The risk of falling increases for older patients but few researchers have reported patient-centered measures on this topic.

Methods: Surveys and chart reviews of inpatients aged ≥ 65 with Morse Falls Scale scores of ≥ 45. Measurements included validated tools and the modified Fall Behavioral Scale-Inpatient (FaB-I).

Results: A fall within 3 months before hospitalization was associated with an increased level of importance to preventing falls and higher FaB-I score (more fall prevention behaviors) but decreased level of confidence related to preventing falls (p < 0.05). Perception measures (concern: r = 0.52; patient activation: r = 0.46) were positively associated with FaB-I (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Addressing patient-centered measures such as perceptions of and daily activities for fall prevention could add value to existing fall prevention programs.