Article

OBJECTIVE: To provide strategies to assist healthcare professionals in the area
of rehabilitation to improve prevention of falls. DESIGN:
A conceptual framework
is described as a foundation for the proposal of 2 intertwined strategies, of
intervention and implementation, which target the questions:
Which strategies for
intervention represent the current best evidence? and: How can these strategies
be implemented and continuously developed? RESULTS: Strategies for multifactorial
and multiprofessional fall preventive interventions are presented in terms of a
"fall prevention pyramid model", including general, individualized, and acute
interventions. A systematic global fall risk rating by the staff is recommended
as an initial procedure. Fall event recording and follow-up are stressed as
important components of local learning and safety improvement. Development of
implementation strategies in 3 phases, focusing on interaction, facilitation and
organizational culture, is described. CONCLUSION: A well-developed patient safety
culture focusing on prevention of falls will, when successfully achieved, be seen
by staff, patients and their significant others as being characteristic of the
organization, and will be evident in attitudes, routines and actions. Moreover,
it provides potential for positive side-effects concerning organizational and
clinical improvements in additional areas.

Langue : ANGLAIS