Universität zu Köln

Oepen, Dennis, Fleiner, Tim, Oliva y Hausmann, Andres, Zank, Susanne, Zijlstra, Wiebren and Haeussermann, Peter (2018). Falls in hospitalized geriatric psychiatry patients: high incidence, but only a few fractures. Int. Psychogeriatr., 30 (1). S. 161 - 166. NEW YORK: CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS. ISSN 1741-203X

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Abstract

Fall rates from 3.2 to 17.1 falls per 1,000 hospital days in geriatric psychiatry facilities have been reported to date. Up to 5% of the falls result in severe injuries, but data concerning medical consequences are scare. This brief report presents a retrospective analysis of one year fall protocols from a geriatric psychiatry department focusing on consequences of falls. Fall-induced injuries were rated in four categories: no injuries, mild injuries (contusions, hematomas, abrasions), moderate injuries (lacerations, dislocations), and severe injuries (fractures, cerebral hemorrhages). In total, 510 falls were registered during the study period, indicating a fall rate of 17.7 falls per 1,000 hospital days. Overall, 375 falls (73.5%) resulted in no injuries, 67 (13.1%) resulted in mild injuries, 59 (11.6%) resulted in moderate injuries, and only 9 (1.8%) falls led to severe injuries (fractures and cerebral hemorrhages). These results indicate a quite high fall rate in our sample of hospitalized geriatric psychiatry patients with only a relatively small number of severe injuries resulting from the falls. These results raise the question about the use of physical restraints and the use of bedrails in geriatric patients to prevent falls as the medical implications of falls may be less problematic than previously thought.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Oepen, Dennis UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Fleiner, Tim UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Oliva y Hausmann, Andres UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Zank, Susanne UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Zijlstra, Wiebren UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Haeussermann, Peter UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-204466
DOI:	10.1017/S1041610217001831
Journal or Publication Title:	Int. Psychogeriatr.
Volume:	30
Number:	1
Page Range:	S. 161 - 166
Date:	2018
Publisher:	CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
Place of Publication:	NEW YORK
ISSN:	1741-203X
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Human Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Human Sciences > Department Heilpädagogik und Rehabilitation > Zentrum für Heilpädagogische Gerontologie
Subjects:	Social sciences Education Medical sciences Medicine
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language DEMENTIA English Psychology, Clinical; Geriatrics & Gerontology; Gerontology; Psychiatry; Psychology English
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/20446