ABSTRACT
In-patient falls have consistently been the biggest single category of reported incidents from since the 1940s; they are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and have a high prevalence after admission to hospital (Morgan et al, 1985; Oliver ct al, 2004; Mahoney, 1998). The risk factors have been identified and reported since the 1950s (Parrish and Wei!, 1958; Fine, 1959; Fagin and Vita, 1965). Although only a small percentage of patient falls result in death and serious injury they represent a serious financial, governance and resource burden in terms
of on-going healthcare costs and litigation (Boushon ct al., 2008). The incident rate for falls is approximately three times higher in hospitals and nursing homes than in community-dwelling older people (American Geriatrics Society, 2001). It has been suggested that this may be due to a combination of extrinsic risk factors (relating to the environment), for example, unfamiliar environment and wheeled furniture, combined with intrinsic risk factors (relating to the patient) such as confusion, acute illness and balance-affecting medication (Tinker, 1979; Tinetti, 2003; Salgado ct al, 2004; Kannus et al, 2006). Many papers have reported that the majority (over 70%) of in-patient falls are un-witnessed with the patient found on the floor and little information in the incident report. (Fagin and Vita, 1965; Hitcho ct al, 2004; Healey ct al, 2008).
