Implantación de una guía de buenas prácticas para la prevención de caídas: percepción de los pacientes hospitalizados y sus cuidadores

Objective

To analyze the influence that the implementation of a fall prevention Best Practice Guideline (BPG) could have on the perception of patients and their caregivers about the utility of the activities implemented, about the care provided during admission and the adherence (the level of follow-up) to the recommendations received at discharge.

Material and method

Design. Quasi-experimental study. Patients  > 65 years admitted ≥ 48 h to the Medical Area of the General Hospital of Albacete. Sample. 104 subjects (consecutive sampling January-March 2013). Experimental group (EG). Patients admitted to BPG implementation units. Control group (CG). Usual care units. Variables. Sociodemographic characteristics; previous and during admission falls, cognitive status (Pfeiffer); independence in daily life activities (ADLs); satisfaction with care and information provided, utility perceived, adherence to recommendations at discharge. Data sources. Interview and clinical history. Statistical analysis (SPSS 15.0). Descriptive and bivariant. Relative Risk. CI95%.

Results

104 patients, EG 46.2% (48) and CG 53.8% (56). Women 51.9%, average age 79.9 years (s.d. = 7.8). Pfeiffer 4,3 (s.d. = 3.7). Previous falls 31.1%. In process, 1 fall in each group. There were statistically significant differences between EG/CG: age, cognitive status and independence in ADLs. In the EG was higher the percentage of perception about the usefulness of the recommendations to prevent falls (P < .001), greater adherence to them (P = 0.0002), and to be very or quite satisfied with the information (P < .00004) and care received (P = .002).

Conclusion

To implement recommendations according to an Evidence-based BPG to prevent falls in older people has shown, in users and caregivers, greater satisfaction, better perception of its usefulness and greater adherence to the recommendations.