RISK FOR FALLS IN PATIENTS IN THE POSTOPERATIVE PERIOD

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the Risk for falls nursing diagnosis and the main risk factors in patients in the postoperative period, at a university hospital. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. Data were collected from October to December 2012, using a structured script to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical data. Of the 80 patients investigated, 86.25% presented the Risk for Falls Nursing Diagnosis. The risk factors that stood out were: history of falls, postoperative conditions, use of narcotics and/or opiates and use of antihypertensive medication. Given the diversity of risk factors found in patients in the postoperative period, the early identification of these factors by health professionals is imperative, in order to propose preventive and effective actions that suppress or minimize such risks.

Keywords

• at a university hospital. This was a descriptive
• cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. Data were collected from October to December 2012
• using a structured script to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical data. Of the 80 patients investigated
• 86.25% presented the Risk for Falls Nursing Diagnosis. The risk factors that stood out were: history of falls
• postoperative conditions
• use of narcotics and/or opiates and use of antihypertensive medication. Given the diversity of risk factors found in patients in the postoperative period
• the early identification of these factors by health professionals is imperative
• Nursing
• Accidental falls
• Nursing diagnosis
• Perioperative nursing