title: Fall and fracture rates following a change from carpet to vinyl floor coverings in a geriatric rehabilitation hospital. A longitudinal, observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether changing from 5 mm thick carpet tiles to vinyl on a concrete subfloor would alter fall or fracture rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal, observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six wards (129 beds) of a geriatric rehabilitation hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  All inpatients during this time.
  
  
  METHODS
  The floor covering was changed from 5 mm carpet tiles to vinyl on these wards when they were closed for other maintenance. This occurred in stages from November 2007 to December 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Falls are routinely reported using a quality improvement event reporting form. Fall and fracture rates were calculated in the 12 months prior to and following the change in floor covering on each ward.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 854 falls on the carpet tiles in the 12 months prior to the flooring change and 878 falls on the vinyl in the 12 months after (19.5 and 19.6 falls/1000 bed days, respectively, [P = 0.95] NS. Fifteen fractures occurred on carpet and 11 fractures on vinyl, [P = 0.39] NS. Using run charts there were no detectable trends in either the fall or fracture rates following the change in flooring surface.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There may be no difference in fall rates or fractures on carpet or vinyl floor covering of similar thickness and subfloor type.
authors: Older Person's Health Specialist Service, The Princess Margaret Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors: Christopher J
authors: CJ
authors: Warren
authors: Hugh C
authors: HC
authors: Hanger
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings / Q000592:standards*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D019370:Observation; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers