Kontakt 2018, 20(3):e223-e229 | DOI: 10.1016/j.kontakt.2018.08.003

Fall-risk identification of geriatric patients in 2010-2014Nursing - Original article

Alena Uríčková^a,*, Daniela Schildová^b, Ľubica Ilievová^a

^a Trnavská univerzita, Fakulta zdravotníctva a sociálnej práce, Katedra ošetrovateľstva, Trnava, Slovenská republika

^b Interná klinika, Fakultná nemocnica, Trnava, Slovenská republika

Introduction: Falls represent a frequent, serious, and financial problem for society as well as for the individual. They are one of the main causes of death, injury and functional limitation of seniors. Every fall of a person over the age of 65 should be an alarming signal and an impulse for the analysis of risk factors and taking preventive measures.

Aim: The aim of this study was to retrospectively identify and analyze the risk factors of falls in geriatric patients at chosen clinical departments at the University Hospital in Trnava, Slovak Republic, over the period of 2010-2014.

Design: The work is designed as a descriptive retrospective study.

Methods: Relevant data on respondents, circumstances and factors of falls have been obtained by a content analysis from the document: "Patient Fall Protocol". In the study, we analyzed 125 protocols that were recorded between 2010 and 2014. The patient's protocol is a part of the MEDEA hospital information system. We used the Pearson Chi-quadrate and a single-chiral Chi-quadrate for data processing and evaluation.

Results: Based on the acquired results, we can say that in the case of restless patients, there are several types of falls from bed - when getting up, moving, or resting on an unstable surface (Sig.

Keywords: Patient Fall Protocol; Falls; Senior; Risk factors

Received: March 12, 2018; Revised: May 22, 2018; Accepted: August 15, 2018; Published: October 12, 2018  Show citation