Use of Standardized and Non-Standardized Tools for Measuring the Risk of Falls and Independence in Clinical Practice

Jan Neugebauer, Valérie Tóthová and Jitka Doležalová
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Jan Neugebauer: Institute of Nursing Midwifery and Social Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 370 11 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Valérie Tóthová: Institute of Nursing Midwifery and Social Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 370 11 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Jitka Doležalová: Institute of Nursing Midwifery and Social Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 370 11 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: (1) Background: The use of standardized tools is regarded as the basis for an evidence-based assessment. The tools enable monitoring of complex events and the effectiveness of adopted interventions. Some healthcare facilities use standardized tools such as the Morse Fall Scale, but many use non-standardized tools created based on patient needs. Our study question was, why are non-standardized tools used when standardized tools are more beneficial and can be statistically evaluated and compared to other results; (2) Methods: We used a quantitative, non-standardized questionnaire to survey 1200 nurses, which was representative sample for the entire Czech Republic. All questionnaires were assessed in two phases (a) the frequency evaluation and descriptive analysis, and (b) hypotheses testing and correlation analyses; (3) Results: We found that the Conley Scale, Barthel test, and IADL test were preferred by many nurses. Furthermore, we found that nurses using standardized assessment scales noticed risk factors significantly more frequently but regarded the increased complexity of care to be psychologically demanding. (4) Conclusions: In patients with physical disabilities, both types of tools (internal non-standardized and standardized) are used to assess the risk of falls and independence; nurses generally welcomed the increase use of standardized tools in their facilities.

Keywords: standardized tools; physical disabilities; nursing assessment; nursing practice; nurse opinions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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