Preventing patient falls – introduction of research-based Fall T.I.P.S. model in special medical care departments

Authors

• Tarja Kansanen University of Eastern Finland, Department of Health and Social Management, Kuopio
• Minna Mykkänen Wellbeing services county of North Savo, Kuopio
• Kaisa Haatainen Department of Nursing Science, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio
• Kaija Saranto Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23996/fjhw.141477

Keywords:

patient safety, falls, precipitating factors, informatics

Abstract

The prevention of falls requires the identification of the factors underlying the incidents leading to falls and the strengthening of the factors that maintain safety. The organization is responsible for drawing up client and patient safety guidelines, but all staff members are responsible for their implementation. The Fall Tailoring Intervention for Patient Safety (Fall T.I.P.S.) model has been developed for fall risk assessment workflow, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures. This qualitative register study aims to identify precipitating factors related to patients` falls at the early stage of introducing the fall T.I.P.S. model in hospital wards.

The research data consisted of reports to the HaiPro reporting system for dangerous adverse events (N = 224) at a university hospital after one year of the introduction of the Fall T.I.P.S. model. The data were grouped with Atlas. - ti software. Entries describing the elements of the fall T.I.P.S. model and the factors contributing to the fall were selected and grouped from the event descriptions. Content analysis was used in data analysis.

According to the results, patients` functional capacity, diseases (86%), pharmacotherapy (14%) and mobility aids (12%) were identified as precipitating factors (n=202) to in hospital falls. According to the Fall T.I.P.S. model, a personal management plan (72%), consistent intervention and maladministration (18%) and risk assessment (9%) were recorded as measures to prevent (n=124) the recurrence of risk events. The Fall T.I.P.S. model was found to support the prevention of falls. The notifications also highlighted training support, introduced the Fall T.I.P.S. model, and identified personnel's information needs. Identifying information needs, multiprofessional competence, and utilizing evidence-based information are essential to developing safe operating practices. With the help of comparison data, the organization can monitor the results of the same type of units and thus support the development of quality and patient safety.