title: Patient perceptions and experiences with falls during hospitalization and after discharge.
abstract: The aim of this study was to describe hospitalized older adults' (> 60years) perceptions about (1) their fall risks while hospitalized; (2) fall prevention interventions received while hospitalized; and (3) fall prevention discharge instructions.
  
  
  
  Little is known about hospitalized older adults' perceptions regarding fall prevention interventions received during hospitalization and fall prevention discharge instructions.
  
  
  
  This is a prospective, exploratory study using qualitative methods.
  
  
  
  This paper reports qualitative findings of patients' perspectives on fall prevention interventions during hospitalization and at discharge. Eight major themes supported by multiple minor themes emerged: overall perceptions of falling; overall perceptions of fall prevention interventions while hospitalized; "telling" fall prevention; "doing" fall prevention; effectiveness of fall prevention strategies; personal fall prevention strategies; fall-related discharge instructions; and most effective fall-related discharge instructions.
  
  
  
  Findings suggest healthcare providers need to more fully engage patients and families in understanding fall prevention interventions and factors contributing to falls during hospitalization and at discharge.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Clayton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shuman
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: mmontie@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montie
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Jose Gabriel
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Galinato
authors.affiliation: St. Joseph Mercy-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, USA.
authors.forename: Molly A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.affiliation: St. Joseph Mercy-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, USA.
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hegstad
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Titler
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Discharge instructions; Fall prevention; Falls; Older adults; Perceptions