Inpatient falls: the impact of family and personal caregivers.

Appl Nurs Res. 2009 Aug;22(3):159-65

Authors: Tzeng HM, Yin CY

The impact of family and personal caregivers on inpatients with fall-related injuries in a Taiwanese medical center is investigated in this study. Taiwan has a prevalent custom for families to accompany their hospitalized loved ones during hospital stays. During the 95-day data collection period, 228 falls occurred. Results showed that if no family members were present when a patient fell, the fall-related injury was less serious. Nurses in Taiwan tend to depend on family members to help provide patient care. Regardless of whether an inpatient has a family member present, frequent bedside nursing visits are important to prevent falls.

PMID: 19616163 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]