Authors (including presenting author) :
Tse CH, Lam KC, Wong MYM
Affiliation :
Orthopaedics and Traumatology
Keyword 1: :
Fall prevention
Introduction :
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths (World Health Organization, 22025). Preventing falls among patients and health care workers is, therefore, a critical priority in hospital settings. It is crucial to regularly reinforce awareness among staff and implement systematic innovations. Therefore, a fall prevention campaign was initiated to enhance safety through four domains: delivering fall prevention education to patients and relatives, modifying the use of fall alarm pads, improving staff identification of high fall-risk patients and introducing the hook-and-loop fasteners for better cable management.
Objectives :
The campaign aimed to reduce fall incidents through a comprehensive approach. It focused on providing fall prevention education to patients and their relatives, equipping staff with knowledge to minimize risks (KEC Nursing Management Committee, 2024). Efforts were made to improve the functionality of fall alarm systems by shortening the distance between alarm pads and control panels, preventing signal loss and ensuring timely alerts. Staff recognition of high fall-risk patients was enhanced by introducing additional identification measures. Cable management was improved to facilitate safer patient transfers and maintain a tidy ward environment. Additionally, the campaign sought to raise nurses’ awareness about fall prevention to foster a culture of safety.
Methodology :
A multifaceted approach was used, combining education, patient identification, equipment modifications, and improved organization. Educational posters and pamphlets were provided to patients and relatives, emphasizing evidence-based fall prevention strategies. High fall-risk patients were identified by using red wristbands alongside bed panel signage, and PCAs conducted hourly patrols to ensure regular monitoring. Fall alarm pads were checked each shift, and receiving panels were repositioned to improve signal reliability. High fall-risk stickers on radiology forms alerted staff during patient transfers. The campaign focused on cable management, an often-overlooked aspect of fall prevention. Dangling charging cables posed a significant tripping hazard. To address this, hook-and-loop fasteners were affixed to both sides of patient beds, enabling staff to bundle and secure cables neatly. This intervention not only reduced the risk of tripping but also contributed to a tidier and more organized ward environment, which is supported by evidence suggesting that an uncluttered environment reduces the risk of falls.
Result & Outcome :
The campaign successfully increased the awareness of workplace safety among nurses and PCA. The red wristbands enabled staff to identify high fall-risk patients quickly, even when patients were away from their beds. Alarm panels relocation prevented signal loss and encouraged additional safety checks when staff entered cubicles. Staff recognized that the danger of unsecured cables and actively used the fastener to organize hanging cables into bundles. Compared to the same period last year, the fall incidents were reduced from two cases to zero.
