MEDIDAS DE PREVENÇÃO DE QUEDA EM IDOSOS HOSPITALIZADOS.

Objective: To evaluate fall prevention strategies prescribed and performed for hospitalized older adults. Methods: This was a quantitative, cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary public hospital between 2015 and 2016. Results: The sample consisted of 153 older adults, 101 (66.0%) of whom were women. Risk of falling was found in 60.9% (92), and women had a higher chance of falling (p=0.0016). Visual signaling of fall risk on the bed was not prescribed for 75.0% (69) of the elderly patients at risk, however, this precaution was taken for 92.4% (85) of those patients. Maintaining bed rails elevated was prescribed for 78.3% (72) of the elderly patients at risk of falling (p=0.006). This precaution was taken for 70.7% (65) of the patients at risk and 54.2% (32) of those not at risk of falling. Conclusion: Fall prevention strategies were performed more frequently than prescribed for every elderly inpatients, regardless of risk for falling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]