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ABSTRACT: Falls among older adults are a common, preventable problem associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Impulsivity is a known risk factor for older adult falls; however, there is a gap in evidence demonstrating the unique risk factors associated with impulsivity related falls (IRF). The research explored the association between seven fall risk factors and impulsivity related falls in hospitalized older adults in a community hospital.
This retrospective descriptive study analyzed the association between seven fall risk factors and IRF in hospitalized older adults.
The sample (N = 233) included patients age 65 years and older who had a documented in-patient fall in 2008. Of the falls, 29.7% were classified as IRF. The mean age of patients with IRF was 78 years, with the median day of fall being Day 5 of hospitalization/rehabilitation admission. Logistic regression demonstrated that only inattention and cognitive impairment were significant risk factors for IRF.
The incidence of IRF was 29.7%. Our findings also indicate that cognitive impairment and inattention are strongest predictors for IRF among usual risk factors.
Early identification of the unique risk factors associated with IRF could improve identification and reduce fall rates among hospitalized older adults.
Rehabilitation nursing: the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses 05/2012; 37(3):145-50. · 0.55 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this pilot study was to test the feasibility of a wireless 5-sensor, motion detection system (5S-MDS) with hospitalized older adults. Interventions to prevent hospital-based falls in older adults are important to reduce morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Wearable motion sensors, which track and wirelessly transmit body movements, may identify human movement patterns that immediately precede falls, thus allowing early prevention. Descriptive feasibility study in which 5 hospitalized older adults were recruited to wear the 5S-MDS for 4 hours. Measurement included assessment of participant acceptance, skin integrity, and sensor accuracy. All 5 participants (mean age, 90.2 years) agreed that sensors were acceptable and skin integrity was maintained. The sensor data accurately reflected the patient movements. The 5S-MDS was feasible for 4 hours' use with hospitalized older adults. It has potential as an early warning system for falls.
Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.) 12/2011; 33(3):177-83. · 0.79 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Interventions to prevent hospital-based falls in older adults are critically important to reduce morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. The purpose of this pilot study was to test the accuracy and acceptability of a wireless five-sensor motion detection system (5S-MDS) for detecting falls. Wearable motion sensors, which measure and integrate movement in space, may identify human movement patterns that immediately precede falls, thus allowing prevention. However, sensors must be accurate, and older adults must find wearable sensors acceptable. This descriptive feasibility study recruited 5 healthy older adults (mean age = 69.6) who wore the 5S-MDS while performing 35 movement scenarios. All participants agreed the sensors were acceptable, and skin integrity was maintained for all. The 5S-MDS accurately reflected the patients' movements and was found acceptable to the older adults; thus, the 5S-MDS has potential as an early warning system for falls.
Journal of Gerontological Nursing 12/2011; 38(1):13-6. · 0.78 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Impulsivity in older adults is poorly understood and there is limited literature on the relationship between impulsivity and falls. This retrospective study evaluated the relationship between of inattention and impulsivity related falls (IRF) in hospitalized older adults. The sample (N = 192) included patients 65 years and older with a documented in-patient fall in 2007. "Impaired judgment" was identified as the critical attribute of IRF. The Confusion Assessment Method item for inattention was extracted as the variable for inattention. Twenty-eight percent (28%) of falls were classified as IRF. A significant relationship was found between inattention on the shift prior to a fall and the fall being an IRF (Chi-square = 45.5, df = 1, p = .00, Phi = .54, p = .00). Early identification of older adults with impaired attention has potential to reduce IRF when nursing uses this assessment to implement additional safety interventions for hospitalized older adults.
Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.) 31(1):8-16. · 0.79 Impact Factor
