title: Medication fall risk in old hospitalized patients: a retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While the causes of falls in old hospitalized patients are multifactorial, medication has been considered as one of the most significant factors. Given the large impact that this phenomenon has on the lives of the elderly and organizations, it is important to explore such phenomenon in greater depth.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to explore the association between medication and falls and the recurrent falls (n≥2), and identify medication related risk for fall in hospitalized patients, in a large acute hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective and quantitative study from June 2008 to December 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in a private hospital for acute patients in Lisbon, Portugal.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included a sample of 214 episodes of fall event notifications which occurred in 193 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current study was conducted through the "face to face consensus" technique which emerged the treatment groups to investigate. Regarding the data analysis we used Student's t test, ANOVA and Odds Ratio. In the violation of the premises for the use of parametric statistics we used the Kruskal-Wallis test. To assess the fall risk, and the medication-related fall risk, we used the Morse Fall Risk Scale, and the Medication Fall Risk Score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients who received drugs from the therapy group of "Central Nervous System", are 10 times more likely to have fall risk (OR 9. 90, 95% CI 1.6-60.63). Association was found between falls (OR 6.09, 95% CI 1.30-28.54) and its recurrence (OR 3.32, 95% CI 1.61-6.85), among patients receiving haloperidol and receiving tramadol for recurrent falls (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.59-6.07). In 34% of the patients the medication fall risk score was 6 or higher.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This current study allowed identifying medication-related risk factors for falls, that nurses should consider when prescribing interventions to prevent falls and its recurrence, when patients are admitted to acute care hospitals.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Costa-Dias
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Alexandre Santos
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Nursing School, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Nursing School, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Unit of Continuing and Palliative Care, Hospital da Luz, S.A., Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Sofia
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Unit of Continuing and Palliative Care, Hospital da Luz, S.A., Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cristina Nogueira
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal; European Academy of Nursing Science, United Kingdom. Electronic address: hjose@ics.lisboa.ucp.pt.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: José
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006760:Hospitalization; D016304:Hospitals, Private; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014147:Tramadol / Q000009:adverse effects; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D014147:Tramadol; D006220:Haloperidol
keywords: Accidental falls; Adult; Hospital services; Pharmaceutical preparations