The effect of bedrails on falls and injury: a systematic review of clinical studies

Abstract

it is difficult to perform conventional clinical trials of an intervention already embedded in practice, and all included studies had methodological limitations. However, this review concludes that serious direct injury from bedrails is usually related to use of outmoded designs and incorrect assembly rather than being inherent, and bedrails do not appear to increase the risk of falls or injury from falls.

Preventing belt restraint use in newly admitted residents in nursing homes: A quasi-experimental study

“…Many negative physical, psychological and social consequences of restraint use have been reported, such as problems with balance and coordination, incontinence, demoralisation, depression, aggression and impaired social functioning. The use of restraints may even increase the risk of serious injury and death (Evans et al, 2003;Healey et al, 2008;Miles and Irvine, 1992;Mohler et al, 2011). In the light of the accumulating evidence regarding the adverse consequences of physical restraint use, their use should be recognized as inappropriate (Hamers et al, 2004;Hamers and Gulpers, 2009;Meyer et al, 2009;Sullivan-Marx, 2001).…”

Efectividad de las intervenciones para la prevención de caídas en ancianos: revisión sistemática

“…1), de los cuales 17 fueron excluidos por no cumplir los criterios de inclusión (guías prácticas y revisiones sistemáticas) (7,9,11,17,19,(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)38). Otros 6 estudios fueron eliminados por no superar el criterio de calidad metodológica (puntuación inferior a 5 puntos en la guía CASP) (12,14,36,37,39,40).…”

“…La evidencia disponible sobre la efectividad de los programas de intervención multifactorial en la reducción de las caí-das de los pacientes hospitalizados es mínima (35). En algunos estudios se muestra una modesta reducción de las tasas de caí-das, pero no de fracturas, en pacientes hospitalizados cuando se utiliza una estrategia de intervención múltiple (38).…”

Which bed designs and patient characteristics increase bed rail use?

“…Rails have a range of functions including safety in transit, comfort and security, a physical barrier and reminder of the bed perimeters, and supporting mobility [4,5] for turning and repositioning [6] and transferring in/out of the bed. Healey et al [7] commented that rails were probably not appropriate for patients who were independently mobile, requested not to have them and for 'a patient with severe confusion who is mobile enough to climb over them'. Hignett and Griffiths [8] investigated whether specific designs of rails were associated with entrapment or injury and concluded that the more serious outcomes (e.g.…”