title: Adding additional grab bars as a possible strategy for safer hospital stays.
abstract: Patient room design should fulfill the safety needs of most patients. This article addresses the safety concerns related to grab bars and handrails (a United States-based review) and describes our proposed innovative approaches to promote safer hospital stays. The fixed augmentation of high-low grab bars and handrails can economically prevent inpatient falls in the areas commonly used by patients (e.g., patient rooms, patients' bathrooms, and hallways). The optimum grab bar and handrail configurations require further research. Revisions to guidelines for health care facilities related to grab bars and handrails should allow a range that respond to age- and disability-specific needs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing Business and Health Systems, The University of Michigan, School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0482, USA. tzeng_hueyming@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Huey-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Tzeng
authors.forename: Chang-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001107:Architectural Accessibility / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006804:Ergonomics; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006749:Hospital Design and Construction / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007591:Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014038:Toilet Facilities; D014481:United States