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Kim, Lee, and Eom: Falls Risk Factors of Inpatients
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2008; 38(5): 676-684.

Published online: 30 October 2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2008.38.5.676

Falls Risk Factors of Inpatients

Eun-Kyung Kim1, Jae Chang Lee2, Mi-Ran Eom1

1Professor, College of Nursing, Eulji University, Daejeon, Korea.

2Professor, Department of Industrial & Advertising Psychology, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Eom, Mi-Ran. College of Nursing, Eulji University, 143-5 Youngdu 2-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon 301-746, Korea. Tel: 82-42-259-1712, Fax: 82-42-259-1709, miran@eulji.ac.kr

Received 28 July 2008       Accepted 30 September 2008

Copyright © 2008 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for falls and to suggest data for developing a program for preventing falls.

Methods

This was a case-control study in five university hospitals and a general hospital. In total, 216 patients over the age of 18 yr admitted from January 1 to December 31, 2007 participated. One hundred eight patients with experience of falling were matched by gender, age level, diagnosis, and length of stay with 108 patents with no experience of falling admitted on the same unit. A quality assurance coordinator nurse in each hospital examined 35 fall risk factors developed by researchers.

Results

In acute hospitals, history of falls, orientation ability, dizziness or vertigo, general weakness, urination problems, transfer/mobility difficulty, walking dependency, impatience, benzodiazepines, diuretics, and vasodilators showed significance on adjusted-odds ratios for fall. Logistic regression analysis was performed to elucidate the factors that influence falls. The probability of falls was increased by dizziness/vertigo, general weakness, and impatience/agitation.

Conclusion

This finding can be used as a useful resource in developing nursing intervention programs to predict and prevent the falls of inpatients.

Keywords: Accidental fall, Risk factor, Inpatients

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Homogeneity Test between Fallers and Nonfallers (N=216)
jkan-38-676-i001

LOS=length of stay.

Table 2
Odds Ratios between Fallers and Nonfallers by General Characteristics, Physical Status, and Cognitive and Emotional Condition of Subjects (N=216)
jkan-38-676-i002

CI=confidence interval.

Table 3
Odds Ratios between Fallers and Nonfallers by Medication (N=216)
jkan-38-676-i003

CI=confidence interval.

Table 4
Logistic Regression Analysis of Risk Factors Related to Falls (N=216)
jkan-38-676-i004

CI=confidence interval.

Notes

This study was supported by 2006 Eulji Research Grant.

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