title: Certified nursing aides' and care assistants' views on falls: insight for creation and implementation of fall prevention programs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines the views of certified nursing aides (CNAs) and care assistants (CAs) regarding falls to inform fall prevention programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study of 55 CNAs and 22 CAs, comprising 13 focus groups, was conducted with an extensive content analysis of open-ended, falls-related questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Functional status, followed by underlying illness, were the most common fall risk factors mentioned by both CNA and CA groups. All groups discussed reporting falls to a supervisor and examining the patient for injury. Thirty-one percent (4/13) of the groups noted reporting falls to a physician. Fifty-four percent (7/13) mentioned knowledge of documenting falls; no group participated in fall incident reviews. The most common response to a resident fall was to watch at-risk residents more closely if possible given staffing levels. No group felt that they needed more training on falls management and/or prevention. Three groups concluded that falls were not preventable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that frontline staff likely need education and have yet to be brought into the falls documentation and/or prevention process. Effective interventions need to include frontline staff, while recognizing the constraints of staff shortages and attitudes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yarmo Roberts
authors.forename: Amanda Egner
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Hunsaker
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004282:Documentation; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009728:Nursing Assistants; D009732:Nursing Care; D012307:Risk Factors