A survey of nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists in mobility care and gait aid use for hospital patients with dementia.

This study described mobility care practice of nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists and gait aid use for hospital patients with dementia. Two surveys, tailored to staff mobility care roles were distributed in Australian hospitals. Physiotherapists and occupational therapists were asked additional questions regarding assessments and factors for prescribing gait aids to patients with dementia.

Bed Moves, Ward Environment, Staff Perspectives and Falls for Older People with High Falls Risk in an Acute Hospital: A Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Falls remain an important problem for older people in hospital, particularly those with high falls risk. This mixed methods study investigated the association between multiple bed moves and falls during hospitalisation of older patients identified as a fall risk, as well as safety of ward environments, and staff person-centredness and level of inter-professional collaboration.

Methods: Patients aged ≥70 years, admitted through the Emergency Department (ED) and identified at high fall risk, who were admitted to four target medical wards, were followed until discharge or transfer to a non-study ward.

Exploring falls prevention capabilities, barriers and training needs among patient sitters in a hospital setting: A pilot survey.

Older patients in hospitals are at high risk of falls. Patient sitters are sometimes employed to directly observe patients to reduce their risk of falling although there is scant evidence that this reduces falls. The primary aim of this pilot survey (n = 31) was to explore the patient sitters' falls prevention capability, self-efficacy and the barriers and enablers they perceived influenced their ability to care for patients during their shifts.

Piloting staff education in Australia to reduce falls in older hospital patients experiencing delirium.

This study piloted a hospital-based delirium and falls education program to investigate the impacts on staff knowledge and practice plus patient falls. On a medical ward, staff knowledge was compared before and after education sessions. Other data - collected a day before and after program implementation - addressed documentation of patients' delirium and evidence of compliance with falls risk minimization protocols.