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Why patients in specialist palliative care in-patient settings are at high risk of falls and falls-related harm: A realist synthesis.
- Source :
- Palliative Medicine; Dec2022, Vol. 36 Issue 10, p1469-1482, 14p
- Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Background: Falls are the third highest reported safety incident in Specialist Palliative Care in-patient settings and yet specific risk factors connected with falling and associated outcomes in this setting are poorly understood. Aim: To understand the key individualised risk factors leading to falls in specialist in-patient palliative care settings and understand the implications and outcomes for the patients who fall. Design: A realist synthesis of the literature, reported following the Realist And Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards (RAMESES) standards. Data sources: An iterative literature search was conducted across three recognised health collections as well as grey literature from policy, practice and other relevant areas. Results: Falls taking place within in-patient specialist palliative care settings can cause significant harm to patients. The risk factors for these patients are multifaceted and often interlinked with underpinning complex realist mechanisms including a history of falls, the age of the person, impact of complex medications, improving functional status and the presence of delirium. Conclusion: In-patients in specialist palliative care settings are at risk of falling and this is multifactorial with complex reasoning mechanisms underpinning the identified risks. There is a significant impact of a fall in this cohort of patients with many sustaining serious harm, delayed discharge and both physical and psychological impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 02692163
- Volume :
- 36
- Issue :
- 10
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Palliative Medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 160754949
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163221127808