Fall Reduction Among Older Adults in the Emergency Department: An Integrative Review Open Access

Abstract

Abstract

Falls remain a leading cause of preventable injuries, hospitalizations, and deaths, particularly among older adults. The overall objective of this integrative review was to identify fall risk screening tools and interventions applicable for the Emergency Department (ED) setting. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using Covidence software in collaboration with a professional librarian to identify the relevant studies. The PRISMA guidelines were used to guide this review. Despite limited research, findings suggest that technologies such as video surveillance along with hourly rounding and tools like the Memorial Emergency Department Fall Risk Assessment Tool (MEDFRAT), KINDER1 and Hendrich Fall-Risk Model are effective in reducing falls. However, more research is needed to enhance fall prevention strategies in the ED.

Keywords: fall risk assessment, falls, emergency department, older adults, prevention, patient safety, best practices

 

 

 

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Abstract…....................................................................................................................................2

List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................. 3

Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 4

Background…………………….……………………………………………………………....4

Significance…………………………………………………………………………………….6

Objective /Aims…………….………………………….………………………………….........7

Defining Concepts and Variables .............................................................................................. 7

Conceptual / Theoretical Framework (Donabedian).......……..............……………………..…8

Methods……………………………………………………………………………….……….10

Resources………………………………………………………………………………………13

Ethical Consideration………………………………………………………………………….13

Synthesis of Literature………………………………………………………………………. ..13

Data Evaluation………………………………………………………………………………..25

Formulate Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria............................................................................... 25

Methods………………………………………………………………………………...…26- 27

Resources………………………………………………………………………….…………..27

Ethical Considerations………………………………………………………………………..…27

Discussion………………………………………………………………………………………19

Implications for Practice/ Future Work ..................................................................................... 20

Dissemination ............................................................................................................................. 21

References ................................................................................................................................. 23

Appendices ................................................................................................................................ 32

Annotated bibliography……………………………………………………………………….. 33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About this Scholarly Project

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• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Specialty	Family/Emergency Nursing Practice
Degree	D.N.P.
Submission	Scholarly Project
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Nursing
Keyword	Older adults reducing falls Screening tools Emergency Department Fall risk assessment
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Dr. Paula Tucker, Emory University

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