Patient fall risk factors and their relationship with fall risk assessment Factores asociados con caídas de pacientes y su relación con la valoración de riesgo

Abstract

Introduction: patient safety, as an attribute of quality care, includes actions aimed at reducing or mitigating an adverse event. In-hospital falls are a serious problem and a leading cause of injury, disability, and even death. Patients should be evaluated for fall risk by the healthcare provider, to determine their likelihood of falling, consonantly with their individual features. Objective: to describe patient fall risk factors at Hospital de San José in Bogotá and their relationship to fall risk assessment during 2018. Methodology: a descriptive cross-sectional study including 90 adult patients in whom this adverse event was reported in their medical records. Quantitative variables were reported as absolute and relative frequencies. This study was classified as non-risk in accordance with Resolution 8430 of 1993 issued by the Colombian Ministry of Health and Social Protection. Results: the mean age of participants was 55 years, 81% were classified as low risk, 21% as high risk, and in 51% risk assessment correlated with their comorbid conditions; 38% of falls occurred in the bathroom, most of them (43%) in the morning shift, 27% required further scrutiny and 12% were associated with prolonged hospitalization. Conclusion: patient falls are a common event, regardless of the reason for hospitalization, thus, “risk classification” requires permanent evaluation to identify predisposing factors and the implementation of proper interventions to improve health outcomes and promote organizational learning.