Patient and Attendant Education: Awareness of Bridging the Information Gap in Patient Safety for Preventing Fall

Abstract

Introduction: Falls are unexpected events in healthcare sectors and a complex problem that concern patient safety. There are many ways we can do to help reduce the risk, though preventing falls in hospitals is not easy and there is evidence that a coordinated clinical team approach can reduce their incidence. As per the root cause analysis in our Hospital, the number of fall rates increased from January to July 2021 with a peak fall rate of 0.18 per 1000 in-patients days. Most of the fall in our hospital happens due to the patient, not calling for help. Objective: The main objective is to promote awareness regarding fall prevention to the patient and their attendant thereby reducing the fall rate and to assess the Compliance level of patient attendants to attendant handover regarding the information of inpatient fall prevention. Approach: A quantitative descriptive approach was adopted. Through random sampling techniques, all the patients and their attendants admitted to Wards are given education regarding fall prevention. The project includes two phases, Phase 1 and Phase 2 and in Phase 2 PDCA cycle was adopted. Educational Tool kits were formulated to impart the best education in every possible way and reach out to all the inclusive criteria in both phases. Ethical Consideration: Permission was taken from the concerned authority of the selected Hospital. Consent is taken from the participants and kept confidential. Result: During the initial assessment out of 135 patients 89% have no awareness regarding Fall Prevention and 11% are aware of fall prevention. The awareness level of the patient in phase 1 is 74% whereas 96% in phase 2. In phase 1, the fall rate reduce to 0.16 from 0.18 per 1000 patient days whereas in Phase 2, Along with the new initiatives and regular education and assessments we were able to bring the fall rate to zero. The compliance percentage of Patient Attendant to attendant fall prevention information given in case of attendant change was 75% in Phase 1 and 92% in Phase 2. Significant improvement of patient awareness in fall prevention 85% was evidenced with Zero falls. Conclusion: Educating patients face to face using videos and tool kits is highly recommended for achieving the target goals. Patient attendant to attendant information handover plays an important role in continuing the chain of education. The program helps the nurse to deliver primary care and providing care and educating what is best for the patient is very important. A decrease in the trend of fall from 7 falls in 6 months to Zero fall after the project was evidenced. There was a situation in Phase 2 where a patient was feeling dizzy and about to fall in the washroom but the patient immediately took prompt action by pressing the emergency button as he was educated about it, and one of the staff nurses along with the attendant rushed and took quick and efficient measures which prevented the fall, this instant proved that making patients and their attendant aware and educating about fall prevention method is importing in preventing patients’ fall in Hospital.