Interventions for preventing falls in the elderly in institutions: a review
Authors:
R. Zeleníková; R. Kozáková; D. Jarošová
Authors‘ workplace:
Ostravská univerzita v Ostravě, Lékařská fakulta, Ústav ošetřovatelství a porodní asistence, Vedoucí: doc. PhDr. Darja Jarošová, PhD.
Published in:
Prakt. Lék. 2015; 95(1): 20-30
Category:
Of different specialties
Overview
Aim:
The aim of the review is to summarize the existing evidence about the form and effectiveness of interventions for preventing falls in the elderly in institutions.
Methods:
The electronic databases PubMed, Cochrane and Science Direct were searched using the key words fall, accidental fall, prevention, elderly. The search aimed to identify studies of the highest quality (systematic reviews, meta–analyses, randomized controlled trials) published in peer reviewed journals in the period from 2004 to 2013.
Results:
Twenty five systematic reviews and meta–analyses and twenty four randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. This review includes twenty four randomized controlled trials. Of these, seventeen focused on single interventions and seven focused on multiple interventions. The results of the studies analysed confirmed that single interventions were effective in six studies while multiple interventions were effective in four studies.
Conclusion:
Evidence to support the effectiveness of interventions for preventing falls in the elderly in hospitals and other long term care facilities is insufficient and inconsistent. Judging from the current results of randomized controlled trials, one of the most effective interventions is a well prepared multidisciplinary programme for preventing falls in the elderly.
Keywords:
falls – interventions – elderly – institution – hospital – prevention
Sources
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