Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Winter 2024
Keywords
quality improvement, PDSA, change management, falls, nursing
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Falls are a common concern in hospitalized adult patients affecting quality of life, length of stay, and cost.
LOCAL PROBLEM: A quality audit at a community hospital identified increased falls/falls with injury rates on a medical-surgical unit.
METHODS: A quality improvement initiative was implemented using a fall prevention toolkit to understand its effect on total fall/fall with injury rates, nursing knowledge, and nurse perceived efficacy.
INTERVENTIONS: The Fall Tailoring Interventions for Patient Safety (TIPS), an evidence-based toolkit, was implemented over five months.
RESULTS: Knowledge quiz scores were similar pre- and post-education. Fall rates and calls to the nurse for fall information decreased, though changes in these metrics did not reach statistical significance (p=0.88, p=1.00). Fall TIPS poster information was valued by the team and contextual factors influenced project implementation.
CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of Fall TIPS may decrease total fall/fall with injury rates. Contextual influences are important in quality improvement initiatives.
Recommended Citation
Congenie, Kari; Scheidenhelm, Sandra; and Zastrow, Rachel, "Reducing Falls in Adults on a Neurology Unit: An Evidence Based Quality Improvement Project" (2024). DNP Scholarly Projects. 1.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/dnpsp/1
Demographic
Table, Supplemental Digital Content 2.NPES results.pdf (139 kB)
Survey results
Table Supplemental Digital Content 3.Statistical test.pdf (120 kB)
Statistical results
Figure Supplemental Digital Content 4. Contextual factors.pdf (165 kB)
Fall with injury graph with contextual factors