ADD THESE DATES TO YOUR E-DIARY OR GOOGLE CALENDAR
This site is part of the Siconnects Division of Sciinov Group
This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Sciinov Group and all copyright resides with them.
ADD THESE DATES TO YOUR E-DIARY OR GOOGLE CALENDAR
University of Arizona Department of Surgery
Title:Bridging the Gap: Addressing Missed Fall Prevention Referrals After Hospitalization for Ground-Level Falls
Background
Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related death among Americans aged 65 and older, with 36 million falls and over 30,000 deaths annually. Most falls are preventable through evidence-based community programs. However, gaps remain in how fall risk is communicated and addressed across the continuum of care.
Methods
This observational cohort study included adults aged 65 and older admitted to a Level I trauma center after a ground-level fall. In-hospital interviews gathered information on prior fall history and fall prevention discussions with primary care providers (PCPs). One week post-discharge, follow-up surveys assessed whether patients received referrals to community fall prevention programs and explored barriers to participation.
Results
Among 165 patients, 106 (64.2%) had experienced a previous fall, yet only 24 (14.5%) recalled being asked about falls by a PCP prior to the hospitalization. Sixty-seven (40.6%) reported ever receiving fall prevention information, and 55 (33.3%) had in-hospital discussions about preventing future falls. At follow-up, no participants (0%) reported receiving a referral to a fall prevention program. Despite this, 115 (69.7%) expressed concern about falling again, and 106 (64.2%) intended to change routines to reduce their risk.
Conclusion
There are critical gaps in fall prevention communication and referrals for high-risk older adults, even among those expressing concern and readiness to change. Improving provider education, discharge planning, and care coordination is essential to connect patients with effective, evidence-based fall prevention programs in the community.
Table 1. Demographic Characteristics of Patients enrolled in Falls Prevention Cohort Study Characteristics Overall (N=166) Age Mean (SD) 79.1 (7.51) Median [Min, Max] 80.0 [61.0, 100] Gender Identity Male 76 (45.8%) Female 90 (54.2%) Race Asian 0 (0.0%) American Indian 1 (0.6%) Black or African American 1 (0.6%) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 1 (0.6%) White 148 (89.2%) Other Race 15 (9.0%)
Ethnicity Not Hispanic or Latino 148 (89.2%) Hispanic or Latino 15 (9.0%) NA 3 (1.8%)
My name is Jessica Kendricks, and I am currently an undergraduate junior at The University of Arizona, majoring in Medicine with an emphasis in Integrative and Practice-focused Medicine and a minor in Biochemistry. I am part of an R25 grant at the Arizona Center on Aging, which allows me to conduct research focused on older adults. My role as a student researcher centers on fall prevention in older adults. I am passionate about advancing geriatric healthcare through research, education, and community engagement, with the goal of improving quality of life for older populations.