Publication details
Fall risk scores in health care facilities of geriatric care in the Czech republic
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| Year of publication | 2022 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | Falls are common undesirable events for geriatric patients in health care facilities. Different fall risk scores (FRSs) in health care facilities are scored by health care experts. Clinical pharmacists identify fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs), which may contribute to falls, The objective is to identify generally used fall risk items in health care facilities of geriatric care, and to demonstrate an important role of the clinical pharmacist in the fall risk management. The study consisted of a questionnaire survey among health care facilities of geriatric care in the Czech Republic. All health care facilities of geriatric care in the Czech Republic were addressed (n=140), a total of 75 completed questionnaires were statistically processed. Less than half of the respondents (48%) use their own FRS, and more than a third of respondents (38.7%) use validated FRSs: Conley Fall Scale (18.7%), Mobility Screening Test (10.7%), Morse Fall Scale (6; 8%) and Tinetti Assessment Tool (1.3%). In the majority of health care facilities (96%), FRS is evaluated by a nurse. The most commonly used preventive measures for falls include an adjustment of the risk environment in the patient's surroundings (39.9%) and patient education (26.1%). For two-thirds of healthcare facilities (66.7%), FRIDs are included in the FRS. The vast majority (90.7%) did not involve the clinical pharmacist in the fall risk assessment. Unfortunately, a third of geriatric departments do not consider high-risk drugs as contributors to falls. It shows a potential gap in clinical practice and the importance of clinical pharmacist in the fall risk management of geriatric patients. |