Evaluation of Barriers to Administering Evidence-Based Fall Risk Education and Screening to Older Adult Populations by Healthcare Providers
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Authors
Ackermann, Lindsay
Carrico, Cathy
McKeon, Michaela
Schaffer, Matt
Sowles, Sabrina
Issue Date
2014-06-03
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Abstract
Background: Falls in the older adult, age 65 and older, are a major factor in regards to the populations’ mortality, decreased mobility, and significant strain on financial resources (CDC, 2011; 2012). There is a need to identify those at risk for falls and make effective referrals in order to decrease the above mentioned factors. Limited research exists as to provider’s perspective on the barriers to completing fall risk assessments in both the primary and acute settings.|Methods: Providers in the Midwestern health system were surveyed MD’s, DO’s, nurse practitioners, and physician’s assistants.|Results: Providers agreed that fall risk assessment is an important aspect of both primary care visits and admissions/discharge planning of acute patients. Of those surveyed, the providers identified gait dysfunction, polypharmacy, and previous falls as the most important areas to evaluate for fall risk. Time to discuss and complete fall risk assessments were found to be one of the determining factors to the completion of a fall risk assessment in both inpatient and outpatient settings.|Conclusions: This research aimed to identify what the barriers are to completing a fall risk assessment in inpatient and outpatient settings and identified where in the patient care spectrum providers deem it appropriate to provide screening and intervention. This research helped to standardize fall risk assessments by identifying barriers to completing and addressing fall risk. It also identified what fall risk assessment tools are being used in the outpatient and inpatient settings.
Background: Falls in the older adult, age 65 and older, are a major factor in regards to the populations’ mortality, decreased mobility, and significant strain on financial resources (CDC, 2011; 2012). There is a need to identify those at risk for falls and make effective referrals in order to decrease the above mentioned factors. Limited research exists as to provider’s perspective on the barriers to completing fall risk assessments in both the primary and acute settings. Methods: Providers in the Midwestern health system were surveyed MD’s, DO’s, nurse practitioners, and physician’s assistants. Results: Providers agreed that fall risk assessment is an important aspect of both primary care visits and admissions/discharge planning of acute patients. Of those surveyed, the providers identified gait dysfunction, polypharmacy, and previous falls as the most important areas to evaluate for fall risk. Time to discuss and complete fall risk assessments were found to be one of the determining factors to the completion of a fall risk assessment in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Conclusions: This research aimed to identify what the barriers are to completing a fall risk assessment in inpatient and outpatient settings and identified where in the patient care spectrum providers deem it appropriate to provide screening and intervention. This research helped to standardize fall risk assessments by identifying barriers to completing and addressing fall risk. It also identified what fall risk assessment tools are being used in the outpatient and inpatient settings.
Background: Falls in the older adult, age 65 and older, are a major factor in regards to the populations’ mortality, decreased mobility, and significant strain on financial resources (CDC, 2011; 2012). There is a need to identify those at risk for falls and make effective referrals in order to decrease the above mentioned factors. Limited research exists as to provider’s perspective on the barriers to completing fall risk assessments in both the primary and acute settings. Methods: Providers in the Midwestern health system were surveyed MD’s, DO’s, nurse practitioners, and physician’s assistants. Results: Providers agreed that fall risk assessment is an important aspect of both primary care visits and admissions/discharge planning of acute patients. Of those surveyed, the providers identified gait dysfunction, polypharmacy, and previous falls as the most important areas to evaluate for fall risk. Time to discuss and complete fall risk assessments were found to be one of the determining factors to the completion of a fall risk assessment in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Conclusions: This research aimed to identify what the barriers are to completing a fall risk assessment in inpatient and outpatient settings and identified where in the patient care spectrum providers deem it appropriate to provide screening and intervention. This research helped to standardize fall risk assessments by identifying barriers to completing and addressing fall risk. It also identified what fall risk assessment tools are being used in the outpatient and inpatient settings.
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Creighton University
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