Abstract

Falls can be a frequent occurrence in older adults residing in long-term care facilities. At the project site there was no systematic process to impact falls, so an evidence-based solution was sought. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if the translation of Li et al.'s research utilizing Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance (TJQMBB) exercise in conjunction with the current fall risk assessment would impact fall rates among older adults over a 12-week period in an urban Georgia long term care facility. Betty Neuman's systems theory and Kurt Lewin's change model provided the scientific underpinnings for the project. Data were extracted from the project site's electronic health record. A total of 153 patients were included, with n = 78 in the comparative group and n = 75 in the implementation group. To analyze the data, a chi-square test was conducted. Results showed a statistically and clinically significant improvement in fall rates from 59.0% in the comparative group to 26.7% in the implementation group, X2 (1, N = 153) = 16.27, p = .001. Clinical significance was supported by the 32.3% decrease in falls following the intervention. Based on the results, the implementation of Li et al.'s research on TJQMBB exercise in conjunction with the current fall risk assessment, may impact fall rates. Recommendations include sustaining the project at the site and disseminating the results.

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 30811616; ProQuest document ID: 2895189405. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Angela F. Miles, DNP, MSN, BSN

Sigma Membership

Nu Upsilon

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Quality Improvement

Research Approach

Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice

Keywords:

Fall Prevention, Long-Term Care, Tai Chi

Advisor

David Mulkey

Degree

DNP

Degree Grantor

Grand Canyon University

Degree Year

2023

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2024-07-31

Full Text of Presentation

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