Authors (including presenting author) :
Lau FSY
Affiliation :
Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital
Introduction :
Background : The incident of fall in Medicine and Therapeutics (M&T) ward 12B in Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) remained high in 2023. Around two episodes of incidents occurred in a month. Therefore, the fall prevention education program was implemented and the objectives were as followings:
1. To address the gaps in staff education and competency in using fall prevention device
2. To plan for rolling our new monitoring practice and documentation in fall preventive measures integrating the new practice into on-going fall preventive work processes.
Problem: According to the literature, reduction of hospital fall was related to staff competency of using alarming devices (Morris et al., 2022).
Therefore, a standardization of fall prevention device monitoring form and fall prevention device education program is designed for supporting staff in M&T 12B ward.
Aim: The aim of the educational program was to standardize the fall prevention device monitoring form and fall prevention device
education program for supporting staff in M&T 12B ward
Expected outcomes:
1. Enhanced supporting staff's competency in monitoring fall alarming devices
2. The incident of fall could be significantly decreased.
Objectives :
To assess the effectiveness of the program "In-patient fall prevention device training program for supporting staff" in reducing falls in the acute medical ward.
Methodology :
A tailor-made Education Program of Fall Prevention and Fall Prevention Device (FPD)Checking Form was developed.
The program detail included the followings:
1. Education Program to all supporting staff of appropriate checking of fall prevention device
2. Standardized Fall Prevention Device Monitoring Form (Alarm-pad)
3. A Cue-card included 3-steps of checking fall alarming device with a 2D bar-code which could be scanned to
show the video of checking procedure
Mandatory fall prevention device round by supporting staff in a regular time slot (1 time per each shift) The proposed change is effective to deliver in all M&T wards now.
This pilot study was conducted since September 2023. A training session started in late August 2023.All the supporting staff received a standardized education of fall alarming device (3-step checking) by demonstration and return demonstration. After the educational
program, all the supporting staff could return demonstration of 3-steps checking, documentation of fall alarming device and do the regular revision by scanning the 2D barcode
to watch the educational video. The change was disseminated to whole team staff by a regular ward meeting as to review the outcome and feedback of this program.
Outcome measurement :
The effect of the change was measured by the statistics of incident of fall and the participants' competency of checking fall alarming device. The analytical methods included
the followings :
1. Obtaining feedback of the FPD checking form participants and team members
2. Regular supervisor project meeting
3. Intervention tool survey was conducted 3 months after the program.
The primary outcome was that the rate of incident of fall in M&T 12B ward was significantly reduced to zero since 1st September 2023 till April 2024.
The secondary outcome was that the participant's knowledge of appropriate checking of fall alarming device was improved.
Result & Outcome :
The impact of this change was significant. The incident of fall decreased from 2 episodes per month to zero which sustaining eight months (From September 2023 to April 2024).
The workflow was continuously reviewed by daily nurse round and regular project meeting with ward members. The actual benefits to patients was maintaining patient safety by notifying patient's movement by the functioning fall alarming device. Accidental hospital fall (due to without timely assistant) during mobilization could be prevented.
Therefore, the program "In-patient fall prevention device training program for supporting staff" was effective in reducing falls in the acute medical ward.
Remark: Successful in displaying this abstract as an ePoster (Topic: In-patient fall prevention device training program for supporting staff in M&T ward ) at the BMJ International Forum for Quality and Safety in Healthcare in Hong Kong from 26 to 28 August 2024.
