Preventing Patient Falls Overnight Using Video Monitoring: A Clinical Evaluation

Rebecca Woltsche, Leanne Mullan (), Karen Wynter and Bodil Rasmussen
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Rebecca Woltsche: Directorate of Nursing & Midwifery, Western Health, 176 Furlong Road, St. Albans, VIC 3021, Australia
Leanne Mullan: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap St., Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Karen Wynter: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap St., Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Bodil Rasmussen: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap St., Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-12

Abstract: Inpatient falls are devastating for patients and their families and an ongoing problem for healthcare providers worldwide. Inpatient falls overnight are particularly difficult to predict and prevent. The aim of this cohort study was to evaluate effectiveness of overnight portable video monitoring as an adjunct falls prevention strategy for high falls risk patients in inpatient clinical units. Over three months, three clinical inpatient wards were provided with baby monitor equipment to facilitate portable video monitoring. Portable video monitoring registers were completed nightly and nursing staff were invited to complete surveys (n = 31) to assess their experiences of using portable video monitoring. A total of 494 episodes of portable video monitoring were recorded over the three-month period, with clinical areas reporting a total of four inpatient falls from monitoring participants (0.8% of total portable video monitoring episodes). Overall, there was a statistically significant reduction in total inpatient falls overnight on the target wards. Surveyed nursing staff reported feeling better equipped to prevent falls and indicated they would like to continue using portable monitoring as a falls prevention strategy. This study provides evidence to support the use of portable video monitoring as an effective falls prevention strategy in the hospital environment.

Keywords: accidental falls; hospitals; prevention and control; video monitoring; portable; falls prevention; inpatient falls; injuries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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