The Perceived Knowledge of Fall Prevention in Nurses Working in Acute Care Hospitals in China and the United States

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to investigate the perceived knowledge of fall prevention in nurses working in hospitals in China and the United States.MethodsA cross-sectional survey with 17 items was used to measure perceived knowledge of fall prevention of nurses working in hospitals in China and the United States.ResultsA total of 1442 nurses at 2 hospitals completed the survey in China (90% return rate), and 260 nurses in 2 hospitals in the United States (42% return rate) for a total sample size of 1702. Six items had means less than 4, indicating less familiarity with these factors. These items included assessment of vertigo and vestibular dysfunction, vision, foot problems, balance and activity, cognitive changes, and medications. In both countries, there was a difference in 2 units worked, with those working in maternal-child having a lower perception of knowledge of fall prevention than those employed on medical-surgical units. Of the 17 items, 11 were significantly different between China and the United States, all with the United States having higher perceived knowledge.ConclusionsFor both the United States and China, the perception of knowledge of fall prevention was high. However, nurses from both countries were less familiar with the items not commonly included on fall risk tools, such as vertigo and vestibular dysfunction, vision, foot problems, balance, and cognitive changes. The findings have implications for practice and education and suggest a need to include important factors related to falls in education and intervention in both countries.

Nurses’ Knowledge and Practice for Reducing Falls among Older Adult Women

“…According to knowledge about risk factors of falling among elderly, the findings of the present study indicated that most of them were aware of the risk of falling and mentioned that individuals who were weak in their lower extremities. This outcome in same line with study by (13) who conducted study about "The Perceived Knowledge of Fall Prevention in Nurses Working in Acute Care Hospitals in China and the United States" and indicated majority of the studied nurses had knowledge about risk factors among patients. Additionally, this finding is in line with the findings of a prior study by (14) , who investigated the "Knowledge among Nurses of Fall Prevention Hospital" and discovered that most participants were adequately informed about individuals who were at risk of falling, mentioned those who had lower extremity weakness, and mentioned that they were aware of the medications related to falls.…”

Nurses in the Loop of Fall Prevention

“…In addition, the hospital provided training opportunities to ensure consistent patient safety education. This finding is consistent with studies in Saudi Arabia, China, and the United States (Ganabathi, Mariappan & Mustafa, 2017;Wang et al, 2022). However, a previous study by Lim and Yam (2016) found a moderate level of knowledge among nurses.…”

Study on Nurses' Knowledge about Fall Prevention among Elderly Women

“…The findings of the current study about senior people's knowledge of fall risk factors indicated that the majority of them were aware of the possibility of falling and mentioned having a weakness in their lower limbs. This outcome in sаme line with study by Wаng, et аl., who conducted study аbout "The Perceived Knowledge of Fаll Prevention in Nurses Working in Аcute Cаre Hospitаls in Chinа аnd the United Stаtes" and indicated majority of the studied nurses had knowledge about risk factors among patients [35]. Furthermore, this outcome aligns with the findings of a prior investigation by Gupta, who carried out research regarding "Knowledge аmong nurses of fаll prevention hospitаl" аnd showed thаt mаjority of the studied hаd аdequаte knowledge аbout at risk of falling and mention that those they have a weakness of the lower extremities, mention that they know the medications associated with falls [36].…”