Abstract

Falls are a common occurrence in the emergency department and can lead to unintended patient harm and work-related injury. Fall rates at the site remained a concern, so an evidence-based approach was sought. The purpose of this quantitative, quasiexperimental quality improvement project was to determine if or to what degree the translation of Boynton et al.'s research on the use of the Hillrom bedside mobility assessment tool (BMAT) used in conjunction with current evidence-based bedside practices would impact fall rates when compared to the current practice among adult patients in an emergency department in Southern California over four weeks. Nola Pender's middle-range theory, the health promotion model, and Roger's diffusion of innovation change theory framed the scientific underpinnings for the project. Data were extracted from the electronic medical record and analyzed using a chi-square test from the total sample population of N = 10,469; n = 5,456 in the comparative group and n = 5,013 in the implementation group. The fall rate in the comparison group was 0.05% (n =3), and .02% (n=1) in the implementation group, X2 (1, N = 10, 469) = .840, p = .359. The p-value of .359 showed no statistically significant difference in fall rates. There was clinical significance as the fall rate was reduced by 0.3% over the project timeline. Based on the results of this project, completing the BMAT could reduce fall rates in the emergency department. Recommendations include sustaining the project at the current site and disseminating results.

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 28967640; ProQuest document ID: 2637332114. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Tracy M. Abrams, DNP, MSN, RN, CPPS, NE-BC, CPHQ

Sigma Membership

Alpha Chi

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Quasi-Experimental Study, Other

Research Approach

Quantitative Research

Keywords:

Safe Patient Handling, Manual Lift Technique, Falls

Advisor

Robin L. Schaefer

Second Advisor

Katherine Fetter

Degree

DNP

Degree Grantor

Grand Canyon University

Degree Year

2022

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2023-03-09

Full Text of Presentation

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