Falls prevention in an older adult mental health ward through a quality improvement initiative

Bibliographic Details
Title: Falls prevention in an older adult mental health ward through a quality improvement initiative
Authors: Karen Head, Babatunde Oyeneyin, Hayley Beech, Alison Marshall
Source: BMJ Open Quality, Vol 13, Iss 4 (2024)
Publisher Information: BMJ Publishing Group, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Medicine (General)
Subject Terms: Medicine (General), R5-920
More Details: Falls in the inpatient units are the most frequently reported patient safety incidents and their consequences can be devastating. Risk factors for falls are broadly categorised into two factors—‘extrinsic and intrinsic’ and while the effect of functional mental health conditions on falls has not been extensively studied, older adults with dementia are at a higher risk of falling. Their impact could lead to delayed functional recovery, distress, increased length of hospital stays and an increased fear of falling.Quality improvement (QI) methods have been demonstrated as one strategic approach to reducing falls in mental health older person wards. We completed QI work at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, to reduce fall incidents in Victoria Ward—an older person ward treating people with functional mental health disorders. We generated a theory of change and then tested several change ideas developed by the team. Using this approach, outcomes resulted in a reduction in the rate of falls from 9.5 falls per 1000 bed days to 4.6 falls per 1000 bed days.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2399-6641
Relation: https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/13/4/e002794.full; https://doaj.org/toc/2399-6641
DOI: 10.1136/bmjoq-2024-002794
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/0ba65b727d1d4b99a05c46d21093c027
Accession Number: edsdoj.0ba65b727d1d4b99a05c46d21093c027
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:23996641
DOI:10.1136/bmjoq-2024-002794
Published in:BMJ Open Quality
Language:English