Evidence-based nursing practice and prevention of falls in hospitalized patients

Abstract

Background: The risk of falls in hospitalized adult patients is a very important topic to develop and investigate since a fall can produce irreparable harm. Every hospitalized patient can suffer a fall which can produce an adverse event.Aim: To analyze the relationship between the evidence-based nursing practice environment and its relationship with knowledge about fall prevention in hospitalized patients. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. The sample consisted of 73 nurses.Results: The sample consisted of 80.8% female nurses. The average age was 37.7 ± 8.4. The average age was 37.7 ± 8.4. 50.7% of the sample had a Professional Nursing degree. The mean score of the health personnel knowledge survey on fall prevention was 15.1 ± 7.8 points (95% CI: 13.2444 to 16.8926). No relationship was found between evidence-based nursing practice setting and health care staff knowledge of falls prevention (P=0.2742).Conclusions: Adequate levels of both evidence-based nursing practice setting and health care staff knowledge of falls prevention were found. Both indicators were independent and no relationship was found between them or with sociodemographic variables. Therefore, it cannot be affirmed that the level of knowledge regarding falls is a factor that affects the intention to behave in accordance with the implementation of evidence-based practice.

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