Gerontology & Geriatric Research

Dickinson A

Publications

• Research Article
  Falling in Acute Mental Health Settings for Older People: Who falls, where,when and why?
  Author(s): Victor C, Dickinson A, Narayanan V, Simpson C, Griffiths C and Humphrey DVictor C, Dickinson A, Narayanan V, Simpson C, Griffiths C and Humphrey D
  
  Falls, slips and trips are a major patient safety concern in hospital settings accounting for 26 per cent of all reported patient safety incidents in England. Mental health conditions and their treatments add further to fall risk but we have little information regarding who falls, where and when within mental health settings. Methods: This paper presents an overview of the pattern of falls by older patients within an in-patient mental health setting in the South of England using routine records completed by staff when a fall occurs. 920 fall reports over three years were analysed, and 7 focus groups were undertaken with ward staff to explore how staff understood falls and their experiences of using the falls reporting system. Results: In terms of diagnosis 40% of fallers had a primary functional diagnosis, 46% an organic mental health diagnosis (14% non-specific diagnosis), average ag.. View More»
  DOI: 10.4172/2167-7182.1000173

  Abstract PDF