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Clinical Trial
. 2004 Mar 20;328(7441):676.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.328.7441.676.

Effectiveness of targeted falls prevention programme in subacute hospital setting: randomised controlled trial

Terry P Haines  1 , Kim L Bennell, Richard H Osborne, Keith D Hill
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Effectiveness of targeted falls prevention programme in subacute hospital setting: randomised controlled trial

Terry P Haines et al. BMJ. .

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a targeted, multiple intervention falls prevention programme in reducing falls and injuries related to falls in a subacute hospital.

Design: Randomised controlled trial of a targeted multiple intervention programme implemented in addition to usual care compared with usual care alone.

Setting: Three subacute wards in a metropolitan hospital specialising in rehabilitation and care of elderly patients.

Participants: 626 men and women aged 38 to 99 years (average 80 years) were recruited from consecutive admissions to subacute hospital wards.

Intervention: Falls risk alert card with information brochure, exercise programme, education programme, and hip protectors.

Main outcome measures: Incidence rate of falls, injuries related to falls, and proportion of participants who experienced one or more falls during their stay in hospital.

Results: Participants in the intervention group (n = 310) experienced 30% fewer falls than participants in the control group (n = 316). This difference was significant (Peto log rank test P = 0.045) and was most obvious after 45 days of observation. In the intervention group there was a trend for a reduction in the proportion of participants who experienced falls (relative risk 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.56 to 1.06) and 28% fewer falls resulted in injury (log rank test P = 0.20).

Conclusions: A targeted multiple intervention falls prevention programme reduces the incidence of falls in the subacute hospital setting.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
The Peter James Centre falls risk assessment tool (PJC-FRAT)
Fig 2
Fig 2
Recruitment, numbers allocated to control or intervention groups, and distribution of intervention subgroups
Fig 3
Fig 3
Nelson-Aalen cumulative hazard estimates of the control and intervention groups
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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