Characterization of patient´s falls in a cardiology hospital

Abstract

Doi: 10.5902/2179769213554 Objective: To characterize patient falls, according to records of adverse events, in wards of a cardiology hospital in the city of São Paulo. Method: retrospective study in which a descriptive analysis was carried out with 67 reports of adverse events occurred in the first semester of 2007. Results: 2.04 falls/ 1.000 patients-day were reported. Most patients were male (59.7%), at mean age of 64.04 years old. The falls occurred in the first 30 days of hospitalization (58.2%) at night (55.2%). Concerning the places where the falls occurred, the bedroom and the bathroom showed the highest prevalence, 73.1% and 22.4%, respectively. Falls from one’s own height contributed with 64.2% of the cases, from armchairs 18.0%, and from bed 10.4%. Conclusions: the results of the present study point out the need for more care with elderly patients, at night, in the bedroom and especially during the first thirty days of stay.

Keywords

• acidentes por quedas
• cuidados de enfermagem
• indicadores de qualidade em assistência à saúde
• cardiologia.