Kontakt 2018, 20(3):e217-e222 | DOI: 10.1016/j.kontakt.2018.07.002

Risk factors of falling in patients with neurological diseasesNursing - Original article

Michaela Miertová^*, Ivana Bóriková, Martina Tomagová, Katarína Žiaková

Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Jesseniova lekárska fakulta v Martine, Ústav ošetrovateľstva, Martin, Slovenská republika

Purpose: The aim of the study was to perform a fall risk screening and to identify the risk factors for falling in hospitalized patients with neurological disease aged up to and over 65 years.

Design: A quantitative prospective cross-sectional study.

Methods: The sample consisted of 103 patients who were hospitalized in the neurological unit. Empirical data was recorded in the research protocol, which included selected fall risk factors and the Morse Fall Scale (MFS).

Results: Significant fall predictors in patients older than 65 years were: secondary diagnosis (p = 0.000), poly-pharmacotherapy (p = 0.000), number of medications taken over 24 hours (p = 0.000), a vision disorder (p = 0.005), continence disorder (p = 0.008), female sex (p = 0.005), the use of an ambulatory aid (p = 0.008), sleep disorders (p = 0.025), and hearing disorders (p = 0.033). The mean MFS total fall risk was 45.7 ± 20.2. In the sample of patients at high risk of falling, there were significant predictors of the falls: disorders of gait and balance (p = 0.000), the use of an ambulatory aid (p = 0.000), a history of falling (p = 0.001), age (p = 0.004), poly-pharmacotherapy = 0.008), continence disorder (p = 0.019), and vision disorder (p = 0.027).

Conclusion: The identification of fall risk factors is the basis for the implementation of targeted nursing interventions to prevent and reduce falls.

Keywords: Neurology; Inpatients; Falls; Risk; Screening; Morse Fall Scale

Received: March 16, 2018; Revised: May 14, 2018; Accepted: July 9, 2018; Published: October 12, 2018  Show citation