Abstract
Poster presented on: Tuesday, November 19, 2013, Monday, November 18, 2013
Purpose: To increase knowledge about the hospital's fall policy in Medical-Surgical nurses via implementation of a falls educational intervention. Nursing knowledge plays an important role in preventing and managing falls in acute hospitals. Background: An educational needs assessment indicated a falls educational intervention was needed. Additional supporting information included audits indicating fall risk interventions were not being implemented consistently, improperly completed fall causation reports, and other documentation issues.
Methods: The intervention consisted of an educational poster based on evidenced-based hospital policy and included: fall risk assessment; high risk alert requirements; interventions; contributing medications; patient/family education; procedure post-fall. A pre- and post-test was administered to assess knowledge. A survey (4 point Likert Scale) was administered to further assess the falls educational intervention (1=strongly disagree; 4=strongly agree; higher scores equaling more positive response).
Findings: Twenty-four nurses completed the pre-test and 72 completed the post-test. For question 3: List four items that alert other hospital personnel that patient is a fall risk; the mean pre-test score=54% and mean post-test score=100%. Question 4 evaluated proper fall risk scoring, and mean pre-test score=33% and mean post-test score=75%. Seventy-one out of 72 participants approached completed the survey. Three surveys were eliminated due to duplicate circling of answers for a total of 68 remaining. The mean survey score was 3.28. For survey item, 'The information I received from the Falls poster will help me assess my patients for fall risk more accurately' the mean score was 3.38.
Conclusions: Descriptive statistical findings indicate the poster may have an impact on pre and post-test scores. Thus, there is a need for further analysis. Implications: Further education on using the fall risk tool may be indicated. A t-test for unequal groups, correlations, additional descriptive statistics and statistical techniques will be applied to questions to determine their relevance.
Sigma Membership
Alpha
Lead Author Affiliation
Eskenazi Health, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Falls, Education Method, Medical-Surgical
Recommended Citation
Kitchens, Jennifer L.; Moore, Shaunte; and Johnson, Lisa, "A method to enhance nurses knowledge about falls reduction strategies" (2013). Convention. 3.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2013/posters_2013/3
Conference Name
42nd Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2013
Rights Holder
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Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
A method to enhance nurses knowledge about falls reduction strategies
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Poster presented on: Tuesday, November 19, 2013, Monday, November 18, 2013
Purpose: To increase knowledge about the hospital's fall policy in Medical-Surgical nurses via implementation of a falls educational intervention. Nursing knowledge plays an important role in preventing and managing falls in acute hospitals. Background: An educational needs assessment indicated a falls educational intervention was needed. Additional supporting information included audits indicating fall risk interventions were not being implemented consistently, improperly completed fall causation reports, and other documentation issues.
Methods: The intervention consisted of an educational poster based on evidenced-based hospital policy and included: fall risk assessment; high risk alert requirements; interventions; contributing medications; patient/family education; procedure post-fall. A pre- and post-test was administered to assess knowledge. A survey (4 point Likert Scale) was administered to further assess the falls educational intervention (1=strongly disagree; 4=strongly agree; higher scores equaling more positive response).
Findings: Twenty-four nurses completed the pre-test and 72 completed the post-test. For question 3: List four items that alert other hospital personnel that patient is a fall risk; the mean pre-test score=54% and mean post-test score=100%. Question 4 evaluated proper fall risk scoring, and mean pre-test score=33% and mean post-test score=75%. Seventy-one out of 72 participants approached completed the survey. Three surveys were eliminated due to duplicate circling of answers for a total of 68 remaining. The mean survey score was 3.28. For survey item, 'The information I received from the Falls poster will help me assess my patients for fall risk more accurately' the mean score was 3.38.
Conclusions: Descriptive statistical findings indicate the poster may have an impact on pre and post-test scores. Thus, there is a need for further analysis. Implications: Further education on using the fall risk tool may be indicated. A t-test for unequal groups, correlations, additional descriptive statistics and statistical techniques will be applied to questions to determine their relevance.
Description
42nd Biennial Convention 2013 Theme: Give Back to Move Forward. Held at the JW Marriott