Editorial Material
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jacqueline C. T. Close, Stephen R. Lord
Summary: In the past 50 years, there has been a shift from accepting falls as an inevitable consequence of aging to recognizing the importance of fall prevention. Various studies have identified factors contributing to falls and methods of assessing fall risk. Effective approaches to preventing falls in older individuals include exercise and other targeted interventions. Multiple and multifactorial interventions have been found to be particularly effective for high-risk populations.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Joe Hollinghurst, Helen Daniels, Richard Fry, Ashley Akbari, Sarah Rodgers, Alan Watkins, Sarah Hillcoat-Nalletamby, Neil Williams, Silviya Nikolova, David Meads, Andy Clegg
Summary: The study found that the Care&Repair Cymru home adaptation service can identify and reduce the likelihood of falls occurring at home in older people. Factors such as female gender, older age, increased frailty, and deprivation increase the risk of falls, while the odds of falling decrease post-intervention.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Elissa Dabkowski, Simon Cooper, Jhodie R. Duncan, Karen Missen
Summary: This scoping review explores patients' perceptions and experiences of their fall risk and falling in hospitals. The findings highlight the importance of partnering with patients to obtain their insights on fall risk, as many patients do not accurately identify their own risk. The research also identifies a need for further studies on fall risk perception measures.
Article
Emergency Medicine
Richard D. Shih, Joshua J. Solano, Gabriella Engstrom, Maya Khazem, Lisa M. Clayton, Michael Wells, Patrick G. Hughes, Leila Posaw, Lara Goldstein, Charles H. Hennekens, Joseph G. Ouslander, Scott M. Alter
Summary: Falls are the leading cause of injuries in the US for older adults. Follow-up after an ED-related fall visit is essential to initiate preventive strategies in these patients who are at high risk for recurrent falls. A study found that only 60% of ED patients with fall-related head injury followed up with their primary care physician (PCP), and of those, 72% received a fall assessment and 56% adopted a fall prevention strategy. These findings highlight the urgent need to promote PCP fall assessment and the adoption of prevention strategies in this population.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE
(2024)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Hazel Heng, Debra Kiegaldie, Louise Shaw, Dana Jazayeri, Anne-Marie Hill, Meg E. Morris
Summary: Patient education is crucial for preventing hospital falls, but its implementation by health professionals is inconsistent. This study identified barriers and enablers to implementing falls prevention education through ward-based evaluation and interviews. Strategies to enhance implementation include strengthening professional accountability, involving stakeholders in the design process, and engaging leadership.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mariana Wingood, Elizabeth Peterson, Christopher Neville, Jennifer L. Vincenzo
Summary: This study developed a screening tool for identifying feet- and footwear-related influences on fall risk among community-dwelling older adults. The tool was evaluated and refined in two phases, resulting in a 20-item screening tool with high face and content validity.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Li-Chen Chen, Yung-Chao Shen, Lun-Hui Ho, Whei-Mei Shih
Summary: This study aimed to test the feasibility and accuracy of a screening tool for fall risk assessment in adult inpatients in a medical center in Taiwan. The eight-factor assessment proved to be accurate, with a high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in identifying the fall risk group.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Kamil Kokulu, Abdullah Algin, Serdar Ozdemir, Hatice Seyma Akca
Summary: The study showed that falls from bed in infants can result in minor injuries such as abrasions and bruises, as well as significant injuries like skull fractures and traumatic brain injury. While most patients are treated in the emergency department, 6% of infants require hospitalization mainly due to head injuries. It is recommended to raise awareness among parents and caregivers about these risks, and to utilize safety equipment and create a safe environment to prevent severe injuries.
INJURY-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE CARE OF THE INJURED
(2021)
Article
Nursing
Heidi Tymkew, Beth Taylor, Kara Vyers, Eileen Costantinou, Cassandra Arroyo, Marilyn Schallom
Summary: This study aimed to describe the perceptions of fall risk among hospitalized patients across different acute care specialty services. Findings showed that although 100 participants were deemed high risk based on the Morse Fall Scale, only 55% perceived themselves to be at such risk. Patients' confidence levels were found to be associated with their intention to seek help and fear of falling.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NURSING
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Christian Hentschke, Martin Halle, Barbara Geilhof, Peter Landendoerfer, Wolfgang Blank, Cornel Christian Sieber, Monika Siegrist, Ellen Freiberger
Summary: This study demonstrated that a 4-month multi-component exercise fall prevention program in older community-dwelling persons can significantly reduce the number of falls, injurious falls, and fear of falling over 24 months.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Hazel Heng, Susan C. Slade, Dana Jazayeri, Cathy Jones, Anne-Marie Hill, Debra Kiegaldie, Ronald I. Shorr, Meg E. Morris
Summary: The study found that most hospitalized patients were not aware of their risk of falling, and experiences of falls prevention education were inconsistent. Poor patient knowledge about falls risk and inconsistencies in education delivery were identified as barriers to falls mitigation. Individualized, consistent education and small interactive groups were seen as helpful strategies.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Belinda Y. Wang, Catherine Sherrington, Nicola Fairhall, Wing S. Kwok, Zoe A. Michaleff, Anne Tiedemann, Geraldine Wallbank, Marina B. Pinheiro
Summary: Exercise can prevent falls, and targeting interventions to people with higher fall rates may have a greater impact on the population. By prospectively measuring the fall rate of the control group, it was found that exercise reduced falls more in trials with higher fall rates. Therefore, targeting interventions to those with a history of more falls may be more efficient.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mafalda Pernes, Ines Agostinho, Rafael A. A. Bernardes, Julio Belo Fernandes, Cristina Lavareda Baixinho
Summary: Documentation is crucial for fall risk management as it focuses professionals' attention, raises awareness of fall risk factors, and promotes action to eliminate or minimize them.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jung Sung Hwang, Sun Hyu Kim
Summary: This study examined the characteristics and factors associated with the severity of ground fall injuries in geriatric patients who consumed alcohol. The results showed that male patients aged 65 to 84 years, injured at times other than 06:00 to 11:59, transported to the emergency department by ambulance or from other hospitals, injured in residential facilities, transportation areas, or public/commercial facilities, engaging in activities other than paid or unpaid, on non-slippery floors, with obstacles or concrete floors, and without sufficient lighting were significantly more likely to sustain alcohol-related ground fall injuries. Factors associated with severe injuries in alcohol-related cases included male patients, injuries occurring between 06:00 and 17:59, transportation to the emergency department via ambulance from other hospitals, injuries in residential facilities, and slippery floors.
Article
Nursing
Margeaux Chavez, Sarah E. Bradley, Jason Lind, Vianna Broderick, Blake Barrett, Linda Cowan, Nora B. Arriola, Yvonne Friedman, Tatjana Bulat
Summary: This study aimed to improve healthcare staff's awareness of the risks associated with assisting falling patients and provide insights for the development of related strategies and policies. The findings revealed that assisted falls commonly occur in patient rooms or bathrooms, and staff members typically assist by grabbing or holding the patient, or using their own bodies to support or stabilize the patient. In assisted fall events, staff members often suffer lower back injuries, while patients frequently sustain leg injuries. Most staff members believed that using proper body mechanics could prevent injuries. However, the results indicated that there is no safe way to assist a falling patient without risking staff injury.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NURSING
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Saniya Shaikh, Aditya Nellore
Summary: As the patient population aged older than 65 years increases, it becomes crucial to recognize and treat skin conditions seen in this age group. Treatment choices should take into consideration the physiological characteristics of older adults, their long medication lists, and their social living conditions. Simple regimens with low risk of drug interactions should be prescribed to these patients to enhance their quality of life.
CLINICS IN GERIATRIC MEDICINE
(2024)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Sheetal K. Sethupathi, Mackenzie Poole, Kavita Darji, Jennifer Fehlman
CLINICS IN GERIATRIC MEDICINE
(2024)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Monica Hessler-Waning, Gillian Heinecke
CLINICS IN GERIATRIC MEDICINE
(2024)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Andrea Murina, Ashley Allen
Summary: Cutaneous metastases are rare and indicate a poor prognosis. Early identification and diagnosis are crucial, as they can greatly impact clinical outcomes. Clinicians and pathologists should consider cutaneous metastasis if patients have a history of cancer or present with nodules or atypical dermal infiltrates on histopathology.
CLINICS IN GERIATRIC MEDICINE
(2024)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Michael Kremer, Nicole Burkemper
Summary: The evidence for age-related effects on wound healing is mostly based on empirical observations without adjusting for confounding factors. Skin structure changes with aging, but the impact on unexposed skin seems to be minimal. The clinical impact of these changes on acute wound healing appears to be small compared to other factors. Poor healing of chronic wounds, mainly observed in older populations, is often attributed to comorbid conditions rather than age alone.
CLINICS IN GERIATRIC MEDICINE
(2024)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Amanda A. Onalaja-Underwood, Maria Yadira Hurley, Olayemi Sokumbi
CLINICS IN GERIATRIC MEDICINE
(2024)