title: Development and feasibility of falls prevention advice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the feasibility of nursing falls prevention advice and factors influencing feasibility.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The frequency and seriousness of falls in hospitalised patients are underestimated, and such falls should be preventable because of the presence of professionals. A best practice-based falls prevention advice was developed to decrease the incidence of secondary falls and the incidence of primary falls in the long term and to increase the knowledge of nurses about falls prevention and the seriousness of falls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, explorative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Feasibility of the advice for 30 patients was assessed 82 times (theoretically, three times per patient) by observation and by interviewing nurses, patients and their families.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The falls prevention advice was used in 48% of the assessments. There was a difference in use between interventions. Interventions that required more knowledge, communication and extra activities were implemented the least. The absence of materials and knowledge about falls prevention were important determinants of the non-implementation of certain interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Before falls prevention advice is implemented, it is important to educate nurses about falls, communication skills and implementation of the advice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The falls prevention advice might help nurses to prevent falls and increase their knowledge about falls prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands. d.krouwel@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: Diny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Harten-Krouwel
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schuurmans
authors.forename: Mariëlle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emmelot-Vonk
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pel-Littel
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans