Risk items associated with patient falls in oncology and medical settings

J Nurs Care Qual. 2007 Apr-Jun;22(2):130-7. doi: 10.1097/01.NCQ.0000263102.06311.a9.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether items on a falls risk-assessment tool, made up of brief cognitive and physical measures that nurses use in practice, differentiated fallers and nonfallers in oncology and medical settings. A measure of leg muscle strength clearly distinguished between fallers and nonfallers, with the latter having stronger leg muscles. For nursing practice, the assessment of patients' muscle strength seems to be the most useful scale for identifying potential fallers.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / prevention & control*
  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leg
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle Strength
  • Neoplasms / nursing*
  • Nursing Assessment*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment