The Effects of a Fall Prevention Program on Falls, Patient Safety Culture and Patient-perceived Safety

NCT03354468 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2015/2469
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 3,143
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

The incidence of fractures in Norway is among the highest in the world, and falls are the sixth major contributor to years lived with disability. In elderly, a large part of 900 deaths from unintentional injuries per 100000 inhabitants per year, are due to falls and fractures. Fractures, especially hip fractures among the elderly, often result in pain, ailments, and reduced quality of life. In Norway, 11 % of all reports from the specialized health services were incidents related to falls. Worldwide, falls are among the most commonly reported adverse events in hospitals with prevalence rates in the order of 10 per 1000 patient days or 5-15 % of the patients, and are associated with both minor and major injuries. The results of preventive measures are conflicting. In January 2011, the Norwegian health minister launched a national patient safety campaign called "In Safe hands". The campaign had three aims: 1) Reduce patient related adverse events, 2) Build sustainable systems and structures for patient safety, and 3) Improve the patient safety culture. Hospitals and primary care units were invited to participate in 16 specific and measurable areas for improvement. One out of four orthopedic departments at Møre og Romsdal Hospital Trust, Norway participated actively in a fall prevention program. This study compares the changes in fall rates, the employees' perceived patient safety culture and the patient experienced safety before and after implementation of the fall prevention program at the orthopedic department in one hospital in the Møre \& Romsdal Hospital Trust, and at the same time points i another hospital in the same Trust but not having implemented the program.

Conditions

Hospitalized Patients; Accidental Falls

Keywords

Prevention and Control; Patient Safety; Aged; Risk Management

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• proportion of fallers during the registration period

  1 year registration period

Study Arms (4)

fall prevention program time 1

orthopedic department in Kristiansund hospital before implementation of a fall prevention program

Behavioral: fall prevention program

no fall prevention program time 1

orthopedic department in Ålesund hospital without fall prevention program

fall prevention program time 2

orthopedic department in Kristiansund hospital after implementation of a fall prevention program

Behavioral: fall prevention program

no fall prevention program time 2

orthopedic department in Ålesund hospital without fall prevention program

Interventions

fall prevention program BEHAVIORAL

fall prevention program in orthopedic department, consisting of 1) Seven examples of risk factors which might cause falls (diseases and medications, movement, cognitive behavior, vision, continence, nutrition, and the room and surroundings), 2) Methods to detect the risk factors, and 3) Measures to avoid falls or protect the patient in case of a fall.

fall prevention program time 1; fall prevention program time 2

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study included all patients above 64 years of age admitted to the orthopedic departments at Kristiansund Hospital and Ålesund Hospital during the two registration periods from November 1, 2011 to October 31, 2012; and from November 1, 2013 to October 31, 2014 and with a stay in the hospital of at least 24 hours' duration.

You may qualify if:

• admitted to the orthopedic department at Kristiansund Hospital or Ålesund Hospital
• admitted during one the two registration periods: from November 1, 2011 to October 31, 2012; or from November 1, 2013 to October 31, 2014
• a stay in the hospital of at least 24 hours' duration

You may not qualify if:

• n.a.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Helse Møre og Romsdal HF: lead
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology: collaborator
• Sykehuset Innlandet HF: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Dept of Orthopedics

Ålesund, Norway

Location

Dept of Orthopedics

Kristiansund, Norway

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Royset B, Talseth-Palmer BA, Lydersen S, Farup PG. Effects of a fall prevention program in elderly: a pragmatic observational study in two orthopedic departments. Clin Interv Aging. 2019 Jan 15;14:145-154. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S191832. eCollection 2019.

  PMID: 30697039 RESULT

Study Officials

• Espen Remme

  Helse Møre og Romsdal HF

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 21, 2017
• First Posted: November 28, 2017
• Study Start: November 1, 2011
• Primary Completion: October 31, 2014
• Study Completion: October 31, 2014
• Last Updated: February 4, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-01

Locations

NO (2)