Authors (including presenting author) :
Lee TK(1), Li MT(2), Sze YMS(2), Lee SCP(3), Yau CM (4), Wong CSS(5), Lam MKR(6)(7)(8), Li YNM(9), Wong LYH(10) Cheung SY(11), MakYK(12), Hui MWV(13)
Affiliation :
(1)Central Nursing Division, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital/Tai Po Hospital, (2)New Territories East Cluster, (3)Central Nursing Division, North District Hospital, (4)Private Unit, Prince of Wales Hospital, (5)Central Nursing Division, Bradbury Hospice/Cheshire Home Shatin/Shatin Hospital, (6)Ear, Nose and Throat, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital/Prince of Wales Hospital, (7)Surgery, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital/Shatin Hospital, (8)Mix Ward, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, (9)Orthopaedics & Traumatology, North District Hospital, (10)Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, (11)Department of Medicine & Geriatrics, Shatin Hospital, (12)Department of Medicine & Geriatrics, Tai Po Hospital, (13)Quality & Safety, Bradbury Hospice/Cheshire Home Shatin/Shatin Hospital
Introduction :
Patient falls can lead to functional disability and burden healthcare system. Immobility during hospitalization can lead to decreased muscle strength and exacerbate “fear-of-fall” cycle, hindering mobility both physiologically and psychologically. Supported by the Quality of Care Program (QOCP) 2022, a new fall prevention equipment—airbag vest (ABV) was adopted to address this challenge.
Objectives :
1. To promote patient empowerment on prevention of injurious fall
2. To promote mobilization during hospitalization
3. To enhance perceived walking confidence
Methodology :
ABV recognizes human falls from different angles and deploys airbag within 0.08s to protect the head, neck, back, hip, and pelvis. ABV can be reused after airbag deployment.
A workgroup was formed in Aug2022 to decide pilot sites, project timeline, staff engagement/training and patient eligibility criteria.
Nurses approached eligible patients (fall risk, MFAC≥3, no cardiac implants) to promote self-care in fall prevention and offer various fall-preventive equipment options including ABV, to facilitate informed co-decision making. Patients consented were coached by nurses to use ABV with return demonstration. Then ABV were provided to patients during hospitalization, encouraging them to mobilize with it. After patient discharged, ABV would be disinfected for next patient.
For evaluation, episodes for patients protected by ABV were recorded; patient and staff satisfaction surveys were administered; a 5-point Likert scale (1-5) was used to measure patients’ pre- and post- walking confidence (rating ≥4 indicating positive confidence).
Result & Outcome :
Since Jan2023, 75 ABV sets were distributed across 16 wards, including MED, M&G, ORT, PSY, and SURG, in AHNH, NDH, SH, TPH, and PWH. Until Dec2024, 219 patients used ABV, 2 patients (PSY) were prevented from injuries by ABV upon fall in Feb2023 and Aug2024. Satisfaction survey showed 83% of patients (N=164) agreed ABV enhanced protection against injurious fall and boosted their awareness towards fall prevention. Over 97% of nurses (N=78) agreed ABV is a feasible fall preventive equipment which could minimize fall injuries. Qualitative feedbacks were received from patients and nurses for ABV’s drawback of weight (1.7kg). Percentage of patients indicated positive walking confidence increased from 46% (n=76) to 70% (n=116).
ABV is a feasible preventive equipment for patient empowerment on fall prevention and a last-line protection against injurious falls, though on-going monitoring and evaluation are required.
